THE body of a Primary School teacher from Swindon who died on holiday in Egypt while snorkelling was due to be flown back to the UK yesterday.

Helen Cox, 34, pictured, had been at the coastal town of Dahab for a week with her partner James Padfield when the incident happened on December 27.

Although she was rescued from the water, five hours later she started suffering from the effects of ‘secondary drowning’, whereby the inhaled fluid irritates the lungs and hinders the ability to breathe.

She slipped into a coma, and after several days in hospital, died on New Year’s Day with family at her bedside.

Helen grew up in Melksham where she attended St Michael’s School and then George Ward School.

She then went on to university in Ipswich and trained as a Primary School teacher in nearby Norwich.

After teaching at a school in Norwich she returned to Melksham to teach at Aloeric School, before becoming a supply teacher and tutor.

She had lived with James, a chemistry researcher and lecturer, for around three years, and had lived in Swindon for about five years, where she had settled in Alfred Street, Helen taught at Catherine Wayte Primary School in Abbey Meads on an occasional basis for about three years.

She enjoyed climbing and was popular at Swindon Striders’ running club, where James is a member.

A devoted family woman, she was close to her parents, Gary and Sabrina Cox, who still live in Melksham, and her brothers John and Yan, and doted on her five nieces and nephews.

She was also close to her grandmothers, who both live in west Wiltshire.

Despite being blind in one eye, and deaf in one ear, she threw herself into many activities, enjoying outdoor pursuits as well as being involved with amateur dramatics, the brownies and St John Ambulance.

Helen’s funeral arrangements are yet to be confirmed.