A STUDENT nurse who was one day away from completing her hospital placement collapsed on a children's ward and died.

Student nurse Sara Ann Cole was nearing the end of her nursing training course when she suffered a brain haemorrhage and slipped into a coma from which she never recovered.

The 21-year-old was due to be a bridesmaid at her brother's wedding and had everything to live for, her devastated parents said.

Sara Ann collapsed at work on the children's ward at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary and never regained consciousness, losing her fight for life six days later, on February 13.

Her parents, Geoff and Ann, and brother, Richard, for whom she was to be bridesmaid in two months time, cannot believe what's happened.

Her father, Geoff, 57, of Chevington Grove, Whitley Bay, said: "It seems so senseless, such a waste. She loved children and all the children on the ward loved her."

Her mother, Ann, 55, said: "We will always remember how kind and loving she was."

Sara collapsed at 4.20pm on Tuesday, February 7, and was admitted to Newcastle General Hospital for emergency surgery.

Doctors warned the family that even if she did wake up from the coma she could have suffered severe brain damage or been left in a coma indefinitely.

"Although it was the worst six days of our life, at least it gave us a chance to say all the things we needed to say to her.

"It gave us a chance to say goodbye," Mr Cole said.

Sara's funeral will be held at St Mary's Church in Monkseaton at 2pm today.