Zoé Stephenson (32) – a firm believer in organ donation – collapsed without warning on Wednesday, April 30, while she and her mum, Pat, were watching her eight-year-old daughter, Shauna, riding outdoors at the Blackborough End Equestrian Centre.

Mrs Stephenson said: "We sat in the car because it was spitting with rain, and we were clapping and laughing because Shauna has always wanted to get a horse to walk sideways and finally she did it.

"My daughter's last words, while looking at her daughter, were 'Bless her heart' – then she collapsed."

Mrs Stephenson phoned 999 for an ambulance and called to riding centre staff for help. "They were doing everything to try to keep her alive and they were so good – I can't thank them enough," she said.

The ambulance call centre asked her about Zoé's condition and if she was showing any signs of response. "The man said, 'You will have to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation' and I was about to try it, under his instructions, when the paramedics arrived," she recalled.

Zoé was taken to Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she was stabilised then transferred to Addenbrooke's, Cambridge, in the early hours.

Mrs Stephenson went there with Shauna and Zoé's partner Pete. A consultant told them there was no hope – and they were then approached by a team of doctors wanting to discuss "a very delicate matter", she said.

Zoé's kidneys and pancreas were donated to two "very seriously ill people" on dialysis and her liver to a five-month-old baby in danger of dying.

"My daughter and I are firm believers in organ donation and I feel my daughter would be so pleased that she has given life to that little baby and hope to two other people," Mrs Stephenson said.

"Unfortunately her left lung collapsed so they couldn't do a heart and lung transplant, but those organs have gone for research."

Zoé's funeral service takes place at Mintlyn Crematorium this morning, at 9.15am. Donations will be divided between the NSPCC and Red Wings Horse Sanctuary, south of Norwich.

She was born in Lynn and educated at Highgate Infants, Magdalen Primary and Downham High schools.

She then did a two-year beauty therapy and hairdressing course at the former Norfolk College of Arts and Technology.

But she decided that was not for her and instead got a job in the accounts office at Cordon Bleu Manufacturing electrical appliances business on the North Lynn Industrial Estate, Mrs Stephenson said.

For the past seven years, Zoé had an administrative job with Gardman warehousing and despatch on the Hardwick Narrows Industrial Estate.
"She made a lot of friends there and enjoyed the work," her mum said.

She had split up with Shauna's father before the baby was born and had been with Pete, who has a daughter and twin boys, for five years.

"The children used to come to Zoé's for tea and they had occasional days out," Mrs Stephenson said.

"Zoé was a keen horse rider and was hoping in future years to open a small equestrian centre because her love was horses. She also had a cat and a dog and loved all animals."

Zoé's grandmother, Mrs Ursula "Pam" Clements, lives in North Lynn, an aunt, Lavinia "Vinny" Bolton in Lynn and cousin Amanda Bolton in Tydd St Mary.

Mrs Bolton said: "Zoé used to see me and my mum every week and she was also looking forward to her cousin having her first baby, which is due in four weeks.