Woman, 23, dies after suffering two cardiac arrests as her family pay tribute to ‘beautiful’ daughter
A 23-YEAR-OLD woman has tragically died aged just 23 after she suffered two cardiac arrests.
Beth Griffin was one of the youngest people to receive a heart transplant – undergoing the procedure when she was just six-months-old in 1999.
But she tragically died in September last year after she suffered chest pains, breathlessness and dizziness.
Leeds Live reported an inquest for the carer heard she was taken to to the Freeman Hospital on August 21, 2022 – treated for pneumonia.
Despite being able to return home a few days later, she was then taken to Leeds General Infirmary with doctors finding she had suffered a triple vessel disease – an extreme form of coronary artery disease which develops when the major blood vessels supplying the heart become damaged or diseased.
She was then taken to the cardiac ICU but tragically suffered two cardiac arrests.
Beth could not be saved.
Tributes have since been paid for the young woman as the inquest concluded she had died of natural causes.
At the time of Beth’s death, her mum Louise wrote: “There are simply no words to explain the love for Bethany from everyone but most of all from me, her mum. I’m simply broken.
“Beth was the most bravest, strongest, kindest, funniest, sometimes gormless – in a way that made us all laugh – but she really is the most beautiful girl ever.
“She was simply far too good for this world, Beth will always be loved and never forgotten.”
HOW TO SAVE A LIFE What is the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?
HEART issues, like a cardiac arrest, are often not anticipated and can strike at any moment.
A cardiac arrest, also known as cardiopulmonary arrest, happens when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body.
Someone who has had a cardiac arrest will collapse unconscious.
Their breathing will be irregular and may stop, and they will be unresponsive.
When a cardiac arrest happens there is no time to lose, it is a life-threatening emergency, and calling an ambulance is vital.
While waiting for an ambulance performing CPR can help keep a person alive.
To perform CPR:
- Perform chest compression – pumping the heart from outside the body to keep blood flowing until the ambulance arrives
- Rescue breathing – mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to inflate the lungs
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked.
The heart muscle is then robbed of vital oxygenated blood, which if left untreated, can cause the heart muscle to begin to die.
A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency.
If you think someone is suffering one, it is important to dial 999 straight away.
She later thanked doctors for doing everything they could o care for her daughter.
The mum added: “It’s not something a mother of a 23-year-old should have to attend but like the coroner said today, I did my daughter proud.”
Coroner James Thompson said: “Beth’s death was entirely a natural one in that she died from a naturally occurring disease, sadly in her case running its full course.”