The cause of a 16-year-old Birmingham girl's death on her first day at college will remain a mystery, an inquest heard yesterday.
Heart specialists cannot explain why Alison Linforth (pictured), of Longbridge, collapsed and died in her first class at Cadbury Sixth Form College, the hearing was told.
Pathologist Dr Henry Thompson said Alison died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome which may have been caused by the extremely rare Long QT syndrome, where there is an electrical abnormality with the heart.
"No one knows what the cause of death is. In a case of this kind there is no structural abnormality with the heart," said Dr Thompson.
"Long QT can only be identified by an ECG heart test while someone is alive. This condition is rare and affects one in 10,000 people.
The inquest was told Alison had complained of slight chest pains as a teenager, which were passed off as indigestion.
City coroner Aidan Cotter recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, adding that the specific cause could not be identified.
Care assistant Mrs Linforth, aged 46, said: "We just wanted some closure on Alison's death and didn't want an open verdict. Tests are being done on the rest of the family, including our 20-year-old daughter Gemma, to see whether we have any signs of this condition.
"We hope plans for a new law for routine heart screening of people at risk will come into force. It could save a lot of lives and stop people going through the tragedy we have seen."
Teachers at the college battled to revive the student after what they believed was a fainting fit.
Mr and Mrs Linforth are backing plans by group Cardiac Risk in the Young for a new law to prevent more people dying from sudden death syndrome.
A private member's Bill will go to the House of Commons on March 12.
CRY claim between four and eight apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions in Britain every week.
