A Northern Ireland businessman who lost his son to drugs has been hit by a new tragedy.

David Lyle, a well-known figure in the advertising world, is mourning the death of his wife Helen.

The couple’s son Matthew died of an overdose four years ago after a battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Mrs Lyle had been suffering from liver and bowel cancer, having been diagnosed before Easter this year.

She died yesterday in Marie Curie Hospice after a sudden deterioration in her condition.

A friend of the family said Mrs Lyle had seemed to be responding well to chemotherapy and had been on a short break to Antibes last week.

However, she suffered an upsurge in pain and was admitted to the hospice for pain management treatment on Wednesday.

The expectation was that she would be able to return home and re-commence her chemotherapy treatment once the pain was brought under control.

“A sudden and unexpected deterioration in Helen’s condition occurred in the early hours of Friday morning and her family were summoned,” the friend said.

“Her husband and three daughters rushed to the Marie Curie Hospice. Helen died while they were rushing to her bedside. The family are heartbroken and devastated.”

Mr Lyle is the chief executive of Lyle Bailie International, a multi award-winning advertising company based in Belfast.

Its high-profile work has included a series of hard-hitting TV adverts on road safety.

Matthew Lyle died from an overdose at the age of 28 in August 2005. He was found at home by his mother.

Spurred on by the tragedy, the family sought to expose the dangers of drugs.

A website was launched in Matthew’s memory, telling his story in his own words.

The hope of the Lyle family was that the website would help turn young people away from alcohol and drug abuse.