The last words of an ex-air hostess who died of a heart attack after burglars broke into the home she had lived in all her life have been revealed.
The 'extremely distressing' 999 call made by Maureen Whale has been released as her family appeal for help to bring those responsible to justice.
Maureen, who was 77-years-old at the time of her death, was at her home in Bells Hill, Barnet, at around 6pm on December 4 when two men broke into her home and stole her handbag.
The pensioner, who was born at the property in 1940 and who survived The Blitz collapsed while on the phone to a 999 operator and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. The former air stewardess died the following day.
Maureen Whale (pictured left and right) was born in 1940 and had lived at the property in Barnet all of her life
The house in Barnet (pictured above) where Maureen Whale had lived through The Blitz
CCTV images which had been released by the police show three suspects who are wanted in connection with Maureen's death
One of the items of jewellery (pictured above) which was stolen from the home of Maureen Whale
A post-mortem examination found her death from coronary heart disease had been brought on by the stress of the crime, and it is being treated by police as manslaughter.
In the recording, the pensioner can be heard saying 'I'm shaking, I'm sorry', and then telling the call handler 'I can't talk, I'm sorry' as an ambulance is called.
The operator pleads: 'Maureen hang on in there please,' but there is no response.
Her niece Gina said: 'Hearing the last phone call made by my aunt is extremely distressing but we hope that by releasing this to the public, someone, somewhere will be moved to come forward with information.
Other items which were stolen from the property included a love heart necklace (left and a ring (right)
Police (pictured above) searched the area back in December close to the detached house in Barnet
A shocked neighbour left these white roses on Mrs Whale's doorstep after it was revealed the pensioner had died
'Our aunt was a fiercely independent woman who should have been safe in the home she had lived in all of her life.
'No-one deserves to die in this way and we urge anyone who can help bring these men to justice to come forward and assist police with their investigation.'
Maureen had lived in the house with her mother Phyllis, who is believed to have died in 1993.
Maureen Whale (pictured above) had previously worked as an air hostess
Mrs Whale was enjoying her retirement in the little cottage - described as 'her world' - after holding down positions as a nurse, medical secretary and librarian and 'living out her dream' to become an air hostess, friends said, after learning of her death.
Her only living relatives are a nephew and niece who live in Hertfordshire. They are the children of her brother Roy, who is also dead.
Police are linking the break-in to three other burglaries in the area on the same day. They have released CCTV footage of two men entering her home and their accomplice, who acted as a lookout.
Detective Chief Inspector Noel McHugh, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Maureen died for the few pounds that were in her purse. It is so wrong that a woman who was so adventurous travelling the world in her younger days should die in such awful circumstances,
