Bereaved Cardiff mum urges parents to talk about child death

Dr Hunt believes it was his way of coping with his problems and emptiness in his life.

She said: “But what happens, of course, is that the problem gets worse, and it’s a vicious circle.”

She recalled the day she got the “dreadful news” of his death, a few days before Christmas.

He was meant to return home to celebrate with the family.

“His death, most likely, was an accident, as he’d packed Christmas presents for us,” she added.

“I can’t imagine anything worse than losing a child. It’s every parent’s nightmare to lose a child.

“I looked after him for 25 years, I fed him, stayed up with him when he was ill … I constantly thought of him, especially during the last few years when he was ill.”

Dr Hunt said she gained strength from her faith.

She now feels like the experience has made her a better minister, and works with homeless people.

“Some of them take drugs or alcohol, and every time someone wants a chat with me for being addicted to drugs, I think every time that this could be Chris, and I want to be there for them.

“I understand now that this can happen to anyone – even people like Chris who was raised in a family who loved him so much.”