A mother died on her first run back after having her baby when doctors failed to spot she misdiagnosed a serious heart condition, an inquest has heard.
Louise Smith, 34, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, was a keen athlete who held a black belt in karate and regularly competed in triathlons.
She had given birth to her son Joshua in May 2016 but six months after giving birth to her son, she died 54 yards into her first run back since giving birth.
Doctors at the Bristol Heart Institute had been treating Ms Smith for a heart condition since November 2015 when she was transferred from Weston General Hospital after fainting during her pregnancy.
Specialists had run a number of tests, which concluded her condition was benign, non-life threatening – yet an inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court yesterday found she died from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, an undiagnosed and potentially lethal condition.
Louise Smith, 34, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, (with partner Gareth Prust) died on her first run back from giving birth to her son Joshua
Louise Smith (right) exercised regularly and had competed in triathlons in the past
Dr Glyn Thomas and Dr Stephanie Curtis, consultant cardiologists at the Bristol Heart Institute, told the inquest they wrongly believed the condition was not a risk to Ms Smith’s life.
Ms Smith went to her step father John Davis’s house in November to go on a run after being given the all-clear by doctors.
She began walking and lightly jogging but within minutes Ms Smith began to complain of tiredness and asked to slow down.
Then just 54 yards from their starting point, she collapsed and started to have a fit on the floor.
Neighbours saw the young mother and called an ambulance. She was rushed to Bristol Royal Infirmary but died at midday on Sunday November 20, 2016.
Her dad John Smith said: ‘You expect to bury your mum and dad, maybe even a partner, never your youngest child.
‘When you lose a child part of you dies. I think that’s the best way to sum it up. I’m not the same bloke any more.’
Ms Smith held a Master’s Degree and worked as a rehabilitation counsellor, something her partner Gareth Prust said she loved to do.
Paying tribute to his late wife, her partner Gareth Prust said: ‘She was an amazing woman. In the short time she had she was an amazing mum.’
Ms Smith held a Master’s Degree and worked as a rehabilitation counsellor, something her partner Gareth Prust said she loved to do
A coroner ruled that Ms Smith died from natural causes. An inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court yesterday found she died from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Her older brother James shared some words from Ms Smith’s funeral with the Bristol Post.
In the eulogy, he said: ‘Louise lived life to the full and loved a challenge, no matter what it may have been.
‘Louise’s ability to turn her hand at both physical and academic challenges were both impressive and miserable for me.
‘However, I loved every moment we participated together in events knowing full well it would be a challenge, competitive, and a success, which is the word I would use to sum up her life.
‘Louise Smith died just 50 metres into her first run after giving birth.
‘She most certainly lived for the moment and was always fun to be with. I can’t imagine there are many people who have accomplished as much as she has by living her life in such a way and touched so many people in a positive manner.
‘In closing, “only the good die young”. We all love you Lou.’
A coroner concluded a verdict of natural causes.