Mother urges parents to act after inquest hears how daughter died from undetected congenital heart condition

A mother today urged parents to get their children checked if there is the slightest chance they could have heart problems. 

Jayne Carter said that they must act now if they want to be sure their child doesn’t collapse and die like her 13-year-old daughter Emma. 

Speaking after yesterday’s inquest into Emma’s death, Mrs Carter called on all parents with a history of heart disease in their family to visit their doctors and insist on a heart scan for their children. 

She said: "I would not want anyone else to go through the pain that we have. 

"Emma was a popular girl, full of life, who seemed to be perfectly healthy before she died. 

"Her death has left us completely devastated and each day is a struggle."

Emma collapsed and died while staying at a friend’s house in Hayling Island on March 12 this year. 

Tests revealed that Emma, known as ‘Ginge' to her friends at Hayling School, died as the result of a hidden congenital heart condition. 

Mrs Carter said: "I wish that Emma’s heart defect had been picked up at birth, then we could have got it fixed.  There is a need for all children who have a history of heart problems to be checked and scanned.  Patents needs to be made aware of these hidden conditions."

Following Emma’s death, shocked pupils and staff placed cards, flowers and poems dedicated to her memory around an oak tree at Hayling School. 

One described the youngster as ‘our beautiful angel in the sky’ and another said ‘you will forever be in our hearts.’

About 300 mourners later packed into St Mary’s Church on the island for Emma’s funeral. 

Friends and family held each other and wept as Emma’s favourite song – Build Me Up Buttercup  by the Foundations – was played. 

The inquest into her death heard that both Mrs Carter’s father and grandfather had a history or heart problems. 

On the day of her death Emma had been enjoying a party at a friend’s house on Seafront, Hayling Island. 

Tests revealed that there were no signs that Emma had been drinking or taking drugs on the day of her death. 

A pathologist’s report, which was read out at Portsmouth Coroner’s Court, said the cause of death had been a degeneration of a heart valve. 

In recording a verdict of death by natural causes, assistant deputy coroner Penny Schofield described Emma’s death as a tragic loss. 

She said: “Emma had a very happy and carefree life.

"The report by the pathologist appears to indicate that death was caused by an acute cardiac failure. 

“There is no evidence that her death was associated with drink or drugs." 

After the inquest Mrs Carter,  37, of Winsor Close, Hayling Island, told The News that she hoped to raise awareness of hereditary heart problems in youngsters.

She said that she herself had benefited from the support of the charity CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young. 

She said: "I would like to help other people by raising awareness of the tragic consequences of heart conditions which lie undetected in children."