This Young Mum Has Been Left In A Legal Limbo After Her Husband Was Tragically Killed

Leanne Hill was left a single mother after her husband was killed doing the vacuuming.

Leanne Hill was heavily pregnant and planning a future with her husband, Ricki, when tragedy struck.

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Ricki was vacuuming the house one day when an electrical shock jolted through the vaccum, killing him on the 8th of May. There is an ongoing investigation as to how and why this happened.

Leanne had a C-section following her husband's death, not wanting to run the risk of going into labour whilst at his funeral.

Before Ricki's death, the pair were married in June 2014, finding out Leanne was pregnant shortly after.

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Leanne was made redundant seven weeks into her pregnancy, meaning she did not qualify for maternity leave. Ricki and Leanne were then faced with having to use all the savings that had been put away for the birth of their child on bills while Leanne looked for work.

Leanne told BuzzFeed News she is taking it one day at a time, but now she faces a new battle: gaining permanent residency in Australia.

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While Leanne is originally from the UK and Ricki from New Zealand, the newlyweds had planned to live off of savings as well as Ricki's salary, but now the savings are almost gone and Leanne cannot work to gain an income.

The lengthy visa application process means Leanne and Maisie are left in a legal limbo, as they wait to find out if they will be able to spend their lives in Australia.

"I want to be able to build a future for myself and Maisie in the place me and her dad called and where I have so many fond memories of us," she said.

When Leanne first applied for a permanent residence visa she was told it would be a 12 year wait.

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Leanne is able to work on her current bridging visa, but doesn't want to be away from her child. She also isn't able to receive government benefits.

The application has been lodged for almost five years already, says Leanne, with possibly another seven years to wait.

Now, a crowdfund has been started by the Changing Lives Project, a not-for-profit hoping to help rebuild Leanne's life.

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All of the funds from the initiative will go towards healthcare, nappies, and childcare costs so Leanne can return to work.

There will also be a fundraising event held in Brisbane to help Leanne and her child.

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"I have many friends and family around me, but yet I can't help but feel totally alone," says Leanne.

"Ricki was the one person who knew me, who loved me like no other and he has gone suddenly, there were no goodbyes no peace of mind. He is just gone."

"My heart will ache forever and pine after my one true love, but I will take comfort in the times I get to teach my daughter all about her amazing father."