SCORES of tributes have been paid to a Hampshire woman who died suddenly aged 39.

Friends of Cori Withell are raising money in her memory after the fitness instructor was found dead last week.

People from across the world, including Belgium and the USA, have flooded to social media to pay their respects to Cori via Facebook and online blogs.

They include fellow fitness instructor Katie Bulmer-Cooke, who appeared on the most recent series of the BBC’s The Apprentice.

She said: “I'm not amazing with words but I want you to know how much you will be missed! Will always remember our long chats on the phone putting the world to rights! Not only have I lost a lovely friend but the fitness industry has lost a pioneer!”

Former student Becky Davis, from Southampton, added: “I first met Cori in one of her Pilates classes, she was a great teacher. RIP Cori, sending my love to her family and friends.”

Friends also described Cori as an animal person and mentioned her love for her German shepherd Diesel.

Cori set up her own company CW Fitness in Hampshire in 2007 had lived in Eastleigh and Southampton but recently moved to Clanfield in Oxfordshire and began a new job as a GP referral co-ordinator.

She was also a life coach and counsellor, offering help to other people online after suffering from depression herself since childhood.

As reported by the Daily Echo, she had once been banned from teaching yoga at the Catholic St Edmund’s Church Hall in Southampton because the church said it was “un-Christian” despite Cori paying a £180 deposit.

It prompted a strong reaction from the community, with a Daily Echo poll revealing 76 per cent of people believed the church over-reacted, although Father John Chandler defended the decision saying the church could not allow ‘non-Christian worship’.

Cori was a speaker for Women In Fitness Empowerment at its conference in March 2015 and the organisation paid tribute to her on its website.

A statement said: “We have been rocked and saddened by the news that one of our speakers Cori Withell has passed away. Cori had a long history of depression and sadly decided she could no longer live with this condition.

“We don't know the full details and whilst her family and friends are still coming to terms with this tragic loss we will not add further to their pain by speculating. However, we would like to pay tribute to the work Cori was involved in and what she set out to promote in her role in the fitness industry.”

The statement added: “Cori worked very hard to increase our understanding about the complex issues surrounding mental health and well being and promoted positivity, healthy eating strategies and ways to nurture the body through activity and exercise.

“Many of us will remember her from private conversations and exchanges where her compassion and understanding shone through. We also remember her love for Diesel, her beautiful dog who she doted on.”

The group has also set up a JustGiving fundraising page for donations in her memory to mental health charity MIND and German Shepherd Rescue Hampshire, which has already raised more than £1,000.

To donate visit justgiving.com/InMemoryOfCori.

Hampshire Central Coroner’s Office confirmed Cori was found dead near Bodmin Road, Bishopstoke and that an inquest had opened and would resume in August.