The mother of a police officer killed in the line of duty in Jilin province died on Tuesday after having a heart attack at her son's funeral.

Zhao Tianyu, who was in his 40s, was stabbed 21 times on Friday evening after confronting a suspect accused of illegally occupying an area of forest in Huinan county.

According to People's Daily, Zhao's mother, 74, fell ill during his funeral on Tuesday and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, but died as the result of cardiac arrest.