Helena Christensen has spoken out about her battle to come to terms with Heath Ledger’s death and insists that her son is easing the pain.

The 39-year-old former supermodel – who was on her way to Ledger’s Manhattan apartment when news broke of his death – revealed that her eight-year-old son, Mingus, is helping her deal with the Brokeback Mountain stars sudden death.

She tells People.com, "Time passes. It's doesn't make it easier, but you try to do the best you can. When you have a child, they kind of bring you back to the moment in a really comforting way.

"Losing any friend is horrific, but he just had this thing about him - this special, enigmatic thing that I had never met in anyone before."

Christensen reportedly shared a brief fling with Ledger last September, following his split with finacee, Michelle Williams.