A 30-year-old woman died in front of her family while celebrating being given the all-clear by heart doctors.

Dianne Mather collapsed at the table during a family meal after discussing marriage with her long-term partner.

She was born with a hole in her heart and had suffered a cardiac arrest at 28.

But she fought her way back to health and was planning for the future with partner Tony Cordin on the day of the meal.

Only hours before her death, doctors at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital gave her the all-clear following a routine check-up.

Ms Mather, a recruitment advisor, collapsed at The Plough Inn, in Killingworth, Newcastle.

Her family paid tribute to a "vivacious" young woman.

Her mother, Helen, 52, of Hamilton Crescent, North Shields, North Tyneside, said: "Dianne just got on with life.

"She never slowed down or took it easy, even when we asked her to.

"She was so determined. That's why everyone loved her."

Mr Cordin, 28, from Hull, said: "We had been talking about marriage on the day she died and had even asked at the Freeman about the health implications of Dianne having children.

"I knew there were problems but she had been gradually getting better after the heart attack and I thought we would have another ten or 20 years together.

"We came to Newcastle for her regular check-up and had gone out for a meal with her parents after the doctors had said everything was okay.

"She was looking at the dessert menu when she suddenly collapsed at the table. Only moments before she'd been laughing and joking."