The devastated mother of fit and healthy teenager Jemma Benjamin, has told of the moment she realised her daughter's life was lost forever. 

Eighteen-year-old Jemma collapsed for no apparent reason at the home of college friend Daniel Ross on April 30, 2009 an inquest heard. 

The two had shared a kiss in the hallway moments before she died in front of him. 

At the time, mother Charlotte Garwood was out food shopping.  She received a call from a young man she didn't know, asking if her daughter suffered from epilepsy. 

She said no, but moments later, on her way to Mr Ross' home, he called again to say her daughter had stopped breathing. 

"He had given us his address and when we got there, Jemma was just lying on the floor, Mrs Garwood said.  

"I was hopeless and I was shaking.  I held her hand and tried to talk to her - but you could in her eyes that she was gone." 

Jemma, of Gellideg Road, Maesycoed, had met up with Mr Ross after an afternoon revising for her final French exam she was due to take the following day. 

They had planned to go for some food, but returned to Mr Mr Ross' home in Long Row, Treforest, because he had forgotten his debit card. 

A statement from Mr Ross, read out at Aberdare Coroner's Court last Wednesday, explained he had known Jemma for three months. 

He said they weren't in a sexual relationship but had been seeing each other a couple of times a week. 

"We were kissing in the hallway," his statement read.  Moments later, he said her eyes began to 'droop' and her mouth 'started to froth.' 

An autopsy showed no medical reason for Jemma's death and no history of heart problems.  Coroner Peter Maddox said it was likely she had died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. 

Mrs Garwood told the Observer, the death of her sporty daughter, who was a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg, had left her searching for answers. 

"My 18-year old dropped dead.  It didn't make sense to me - I couldn't grasp it. 

"It's still the same.  It doesn't seem like two years has almost gone.  I can't think what I have done in that time - it's all been a bit of s blur. 

Jemma was such a lively and bubbly girl.  There a hole there now and I think about her every day." 

Jemma's family received floods of cards at the time of her death. 

A message from Daniel Ross' family read: "Jemma will be missed by many of her friends, including Daniel.  I pray the Lord will ease your pain as time goes by, and you will recall those treasured memories you had with Jemma." 

Since her death, Jemma's family and friends have raised money for CRY, a charity promoting awareness of cardiac arrest in young people. 

On her birthday, seven months after she died, Jemma's father Dale Benjamin helped raise £3,058 in a charity hike.  He aims to raise £7,000 in total to open a screening clinic to test people for rare heart conditions. 

Since his daughter's death, Mr Benjamin has filed a complaint to the Welsh Ambulance Service about the length of time - 23 minutes - it took for paramedics to arrive at his daughter's side. 

A review has since provoked changes to the service's emergency procedures, including time spent on vehicle checks by staff.  A disciplinary panel has also been called, which will take place later this year.

A medical report said the chances of surviving sudden adult death syndrome were very low, and it was unlikely the timing of the ambulance response crew would have had any influence on the case of Miss Benjamin's death. 

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: "Operations of the welsh Ambulance Service are being considered internally and dealt with as appropriate." 

Coroner Peter Maddox gave a narrative verdict.  He said: "On the balance of probabilities, the delayed response did not affect the tragic outcome of this case."