A heartbroken dad has issued a sombre warning after his daughter died of a chronic lung condition at the age of 37.

Peter Hatherell, who was speaking to the Telegraph & Argus just four days after his beloved daughter died suddenly in her sleep, has urged people to visit their doctor immediately if they have breathing problems.

Mother-of-two Bexs Hatherell passed away in the early hours of last Saturday at her flat on Cavendish Road in Idle. She was found by her eldest daughter Chloe, 13, who had stayed the night at a friend’s, at about 10.30am.

About two-and-a-half years ago, Miss Hatherell was a healthy 35-year-old who weighed eight-and-a-half stone. She had complained of stomach problems in early 2011, with medics believing she had irritable bowel syndrome.

But a chance encounter with a nurse on a flight of stairs at St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford led to concerns about her breathing and a subsequent diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Just before she died, Miss Hatherell, who was a smoker, weighed 16-and-a-half stone.

“She had changed beyond recognition,” said Mr Hatherell. “She couldn’t exercise because she was breathless. COPD is a debilatory lung disease that gets progressively worse until they get to the end stage.

“I saw her go downhill. She put the weight on, it was unbelievable, and her breathing got so bad.”

Mr Hatherell said his daughter was having to get a taxi for even very short journeys because of the impact of her condition.

He continued: “I want to raise awareness of COPD. If there is a young person out there – because Chloe did complain for a while about her mum getting breathless – that suddenly finds themselves getting breathless, even if they are a non-smoker, don’t take any chances. Get yourself checked out. They cannot cure it, but they can ease it for you. It could have perhaps prolonged Bexs’ life “It is what you might call an old person’s disease, but Bexs got it when she was 35. If it only helps one person, you have given them an extra few years of life.”

Miss Hatherell had a partner of 20 years, Martin, and another daughter, nine-year-old Ellie.

“She was a fantastic mother and she loved her kids,” said Mr Hatherell, who added that his daughter was training to be a nurse when she was diagnosed with COPD.

Miss Hatherell’s funeral is on Tuesday at Rawdon Crematorium.