Footballer’s mum dies after brutal attack in West Indies

THE son of a British mother who died after being attacked in Barbados has thanked friends, family and sports fans for their “immense” support.

Mother-of-three Natalie Crichlow (44) was visiting family in the West Indies when she was attacked by an unknown intruder in a bedroom on July 28.

Ms Crichlow, who had survived cancer twice and had two strokes in the past decade, was on a trip to help look after her disabled brother when she was strangled, doused with a flammable substance and set alight at his home in Christ Church.

Luton-born Ms Crichlow, of Colingdale, north London, suffered 75% burns to her body but died in hospital on August 6.

Her son is Hartlepool United defender Romoney Crichlow-Noble (20), and he is being comforted by his team-mates. Crichlow-Noble, who is on loan from Huddersfield Town, tweeted: “Honestly the support my family & I have received the last week has been immense, I can only thank not only the people around me but also all the fans. Thank you!”

Her children now want to get her back home to Britain for burial.

Her niece Ashley Best said: “The intruder broke in the house, then strangled her and then set her alight.

“I do not understand why it happened and we are all in a state of shock. She went into hospital and died of her injuries.

“For someone who had battled through so much to just be taken in this way and lose their life is just beyond understanding.”

“It is all just a shame. She said she wanted to live life to the fullest because her life had nearly been taken from her.”

No arrests have been made, a spokesman for the Royal Barbados Police Force said.

Hartlepool United’s chief executive Mark Maguire said that everyone at the football club was “devastated” by the death and they are offering sincere condolences and support to the player.

He said: “As always in circumstances like this, we will be guided by Rom and his family in anything we do or say publicly but it is important that he knows we consider him part of our family and will do all we can to help.

“We know that there is a fundraising effort to help repatriate Rom’s Mum and would urge anybody who feels it appropriate to get behind those efforts. As a club, we will certainly make a donation accordingly.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to try and raise the money needed to bring her body back to Britain.

Natalie Crichlow died in hospital after being set alight in Barbados