Asthma suspected in shop worker death

The woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital, where she died. Photo / The Star

A clothing shop worker has died after a suspected asthma attack at work.

The woman, who was in her early 20s, was working at Country Road clothing store at Westfield Mall in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton when she became unwell just before 5pm on Friday. It is understood the woman worked alongside her twin sister in the store.

While the rest of the mall bustled with weekend shoppers yesterday, Country Road remained closed as the woman's colleagues dealt with her death.

Company spokesman Angus Urquhart confirmed the woman's death.

The woman was highly regarded, Urquhart said.

"We are greatly saddened by her death. Our thoughts are with her family at this time." The store was closed yesterday out of respect for the woman, her family and colleagues, he said.

An ambulance spokeswoman said the service was called at 4.56pm and told a woman was not breathing after suffering a suspected asthma attack.

Ambulance officers had performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital, where she died.

The Asthma Foundation says someone dies every week in New Zealand from asthma.

In 2011 - the latest year for which figures are available - 69 had died. More than half a million Kiwis had the respiratory condition, including one in seven children and one in nine adults.