‘SARA WAS A SHINING STAR’
Tributes paid to 26-year-old woman who ‘radiated joy’ at YMCA campus
TRIBUTES have been paid to a ‘beautiful’ young woman following her sudden death.
Sara Albakri was today described as a ‘one of a kind’ with the ‘brightest smile’ after she was found dead in her room at Hanley’s YMCA on Monday.
Police are not treating the 26-yearold’s death as suspicious.
YMCA chief executive Daniel Flynn first met Sara when she came to live at the hostel where a memorial of flowers and candles has now been set up in her honour.
In a touching tribute, he said: “The YMCA is a family, and we have lost one of our own. We are unfortunate to lose a bright and gifted young woman.
“Sara is a shining star, a woman who brought light and life to everyone she met. Sara continually radiated joy and energy throughout the campus.
“Although Sara has gone far too early, our faith tells us we will reunite, and I am expecting that to be one of the best gatherings we have ever seen.”
Sara first joined YMCA North Staffordshire in February 2017.
She went on to volunteer at a Roma camp in Cluj, Romania, and enrolled on to Staffordshire University’s Stepup course as she pursued her dream of becoming a graphic designer.
Paying tribute to Sara, personal development coach Hannah Banner said: “It is so tough to select few words to remember someone so full of life, laughter and happiness.
“Sara was a one-of-a-kind, beautiful, bright and loving young lady, and I am so honoured to have been a part of her journey over the last three-anda-half years.
“Every time I saw Sara, the first thing she would say is ‘are you okay sweetie?’ because that is just the kind of person she was, always caring for and thinking of others.
“As with any working relationship, we had our ups, and we had our downs, but always came through.
“Three years ago, Sara bought me a beautiful plant for Christmas, well I say beautiful, but I never had the opportunity to find out, because I frequently forgot to water it.
“Sara never let me live this moment down, and it’s safe to say, I never got another plant.
“I will be purchasing a similar plant, and this time, I will remember to water it, because this time, it is in memory of the beautiful Sara. She will be genuinely missed.”
Emergency services had been called to the YMCA at 10.30pm on September 28 but nothing could be done to save Sara.
A YMCA spokesman added: “We send our sincere condolences to family and friends who have the full support of YMCA North Staffordshire at this very tough time.
“We are assisting Staffordshire Police with their inquires.”
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “We were called to an address on Harding Road in Hanley following concerns for a resident.
“Officers forced entry and a woman in her 20s was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for HM Coroner.”