Christian dies trying to emulate Jesus's fast

London: A devout Christian who died halfway through a 40-day religious fast was trying to match the 40 days Jesus spent starving in the wilderness, her mother has said.

Rosaline Gilbert, 34, lasted 23 days without food before collapsing at her home in Hackney.

Her mother, Gloria Gilbert, 66, said the mature student had embarked on the fast to "bring her closer to God".

"She fasted a lot," said Gilbert. "It was part of her religion but this time she wanted to fast for 40 days and 40 nights like Jesus. She thought fasting brought her closer to God but I think this time she was just a bit too weak. She would only have water and when people from her church offered her food she refused it, saying the Lord would provide for her.

"She became a Christian 10 years ago. She was very committed to her faith."

Gilbert, a mother-of-10 from Gloucester, last saw her daughter, who moved to London to go to catering college when she was 18, at a family christening last month.

Forced entry

Rosaline's body was found by police who forced entry to her home in Clapton, on April 12 after being alerted by worried neighbours. She was declared dead at the scene.

It is thought that she was fasting for Lent, although she started 19 days after that began on March 1. The Christian festival marks the period that Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray.

Her sister Juliet said: "She started her latest fast just drinking water and reading the Bible. We think she maybe hadn't drunk enough water. She was starving herself and it must have been just too much for her body to take.

"It is such a shock. She was our baby. But she would have found some peace devoting herself to God."

Gilbert said: "She was such a super girl.

"She wouldn't drink or have boyfriends. Like any mum, I would say to her, 'When are you getting a boyfriend?' and she would say, 'Only when God chooses one for me'."