A fit and healthy young woman died in her sleep without warning.
Catherine Keane's housemates didn't think much of it when she failed to come down for breakfast at the height of the Covid pandemic last summer.
The 31-year-old and her pals were all working from home in Rathmines in Dublin, and so their schedules were no longer as rigid.
However, by mid-morning they were a little concerned and sent her a text and when there was no response checked her room, reports the Irish Mirror.
They found Catherine had passed away in the night.
It was later determined she'd died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).
SADS is a condition where someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly from a cardiac arrest, but the cause of the cardiac arrest can't be found.
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Catherine's grieving mum Margherita Cummins said one of her daughter's friends heard a noise coming from her room in the early hours of June 1, 2021, and believes that's when she died.
Margherita has urged parents to get their children screened if there is a family history of cardiac illness.
She said: “She was living with two friends in Rathmines in Dublin and they were all working from home so no-one really paid attention when she didn’t come down for breakfast.
“They sent her a text at 11.20am and when she didn’t reply, they checked her room and found she had passed. Her friend heard a noise in her room at 3.56am and believes now that is when she died.
“Catherine and I were so close because it was just us for so long before I met my husband Fergal and had Sean and Naoise. She was such a character.
“She worked for an advertising company and was doing really well. She went to the gym and walked 10,000 steps every day.
“She used to ring me while out for a walk and just chat away for the duration. She was such great craic and quick witted and was really good for getting people together.
“Every day I wake up and think: Oh God, here we go again. It’s a struggle. I try and look at something positive to get me through but there are so many reminders everywhere.
“I take some comfort in that she went in her sleep and knew no pain and I’m grateful for that. I always worried about the kids driving in the car but never saw this coming. I never thought I’d ever lose a child in my life.”
Margherita and her family are holding a 5km walk near their home in Ratoath, Co Meath on July 2 to raise money for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
