Sarah falls victim to breast cancer

Paul Merton's wife Sarah Parkinson has died of breast cancer at the age of 41.

The comic was at her side when she died on Tuesday morning.

Writer Sarah was first diagnosed with cancer in February last year. She was thought to have beaten the disease after having a lump removed in April 2002, but suffered a relapse.

A statement issued by Paul's agent, Mandy Ward, said: "After her initial devastating diagnosis of cancer in February 2002, Sarah successfully lived with the disease for the next 19 months.

"She refused chemotherapy because she knew it would finish her off. Instead, she boosted her immune system with a mixture of nutritional therapy, yoga, meditation, positive thinking and laughter.

"Consequently she led a full and active life right up to the last couple of weeks when her condition suddenly worsened.

"She faced the situation with courage and died serenely and without pain in the early hours of Tuesday morning."

Sarah married Paul, 43, in June, after a romance that spanned several years.

Published: 25 Sep 2003