A 38-year-old mother was found dead by her teenage son on Christmas Day, just hours after getting home from the doctors. 

Louise McKenzie from Bootle, Merseyside, had been to the doctors with her son, Reece Barrett, on December 24, when she was diagnosed with an inflamed pancreas.

The 18-year-old said his mother had been told the diagnosis was nothing to worry about, and the duo continued to finish their festive shopping later that day. 

And after they arrived home to their XL bully, Virgil, Louise even began to clean their home before the big day of celebrations. 

But it was only shortly later that she started to complain of dizziness as well as a headache before taking a moment to rest. 

Reece went out for a few drinks with his friends to celebrate the festivities, and came 'straight home' after his mother called to see what time he would be back. 

And when he arrived, she was asleep and snoring 'like she always would.' 

'[I] said "goodnight, I love you" and gave her a kiss, she said "Merry Christmas, I love you",' he told The Liverpool Echo.

However, when the teen woke on December 25, he walked to the bathroom to find his mother curled up on the bathroom floor and desperately tried to wake her up. 

'I think I knew straight away she had passed away. I just went into a panic. I rang my girlfriend, and she told me to ring an ambulance,' Reece said.

Reece Barrett woke up on Christmas Day to find his mother Louise McKenzie (pictured) had suddenly passed away

It is believed the 'loving' mother may have died from a brain haemorrhage 

The distraught young man performed CPR on his mother, and at one point thought she had begun breathing again. But despite his tireless efforts, Louise had passed. 

'I think it was just the last of the air leaving her body,' he added. 'I hoped the paramedics could save her, but I think I already knew she was gone.

Sadly, Louise was later pronounced dead at home, according to civil servant Reece. It is believed her cause of death was a brain haemorrhage.

He thinks his mother's headaches and dizziness may have been a sign of something more sinister but he 'had no clue' it was a bleed on the brain at the time.   

'I hate myself that I didn't take her to the hospital, instead I told her to just sit down,' he added.

In a touching tribute to his mother, the 18-year-old described her as a 'lovely' 'people person', who would endlessly joke and laugh with others. 

The young man tearily shared how, over the last year, he and his mother had money woes, as he reassured her he wasn't bothered about presents.