A mother yesterday called for a fresh investigation into the sudden death of her daughter after new evidence confirmed she was killed by a ringing alarm clock.  Nurse Lisa Jane Browne, aged 27, suffered from an undiagnosed heart abnormality which caused her heart to stop beating after the sudden shock of her 6am alarm call on the morning of January 12, 1998. 

Earlier this month scientists in Sweden confirmed the paediatric nurse, who worked at The Countess of Chester hospital, had the rare disorder Long QT syndrome.  The condition affects the electrical system of the heart which can cause sudden unexplained death in young people. 

Her mother Doreen Harley, of Connah’s Quay in north Wales, always suspected her daughter had died of the rare hereditary disorder.  Now she wants the inquest into her death to be reopened and her cause of death changed. 

She said: “I could never accept that Lisa died for no reason and now I have proof that it was Long QT syndrome that killed her. 

"It is vitally important that this is officially recognised and the only way to do that is to reopen the inquest and change the cause of death on Lisa’s death certificate. 

“We asked for Lisa’s post-mortem tissue to be genetically tested two years ago. 

“It is a lengthy process and once the DNA was extracted it was sent to specialists in Sweden who confirmed she had Long QT. 

“It is a relief to finally know for sure what we have all suspected for so long.” 

Lisa’s family have been investigating her death for the past seven years and have since discovered that five of her relatives also have the hereditary syndrome.  The condition can be diagnosed by an ECG and treated using drugs or a pacemaker. 

Mrs Harley is campaigning with the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young for all people aged between 14 and 35 to be offered free screening sessions. 

She said: “No more young people should die so needlessly when this disorder can be diagnosed and treated.” 

A spokeswoman for Cheshire Coroners Office said there were no current plans for the inquest to be reopened. 

Find out more about Long QT syndrome