Mother, 18, killed by rare infection hours after birthday party

A TEENAGE mother who collapsed and died in her boyfriend's arms just hours after singing and dancing at her 18th birthday party was struck down by a rare bacterial infection, an inquest heard.

Amy Houghton, the mother of an eight-month-old son, was rushed to hospital where doctors battled in vain to save her from streptococcal septicaemia which killed her in an alarmingly short space of time.

Pathologist Dr Kim Suvarna told the Sheffield hearing he had only come across five or six cases in his career and said there was no warning, adding: "You can be perfectly well, then a bit breathless and then you are dead."

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The young mother from Brampton Bierlow, near Barnsley, had organised a party to celebrate her birthday and had drunk just a couple of glasses of cider before leaving at about 2am. She was in bed with her boyfriend when she stopped breathing.

Dr Suvarna told the hearing he found no abnormalities with Amy's heart but it was enlarged. She was also overweight and had a furring of the arteries which was unusual in somebody of her age.

"All these features are likely to be associated with an increased risk of sudden death," he said. "It just means the chances are higher than average."

Dr Suvarna said swabs taken before Amy's death indicated the infection was present but it was unclear how it had entered her body. He said: "It is difficult to point to any particular reason as to why she suffered this event."

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He added: "It is an unfortunate situation. We all have certain weaknesses. It is an absolute tragedy but there's no way around it."

Amy was 18 on March 22 and held her birthday party on the following Saturday at a social club in Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire. She had been planning it for months.

Her mother said: "She seemed to have a good time and really enjoyed herself. The last thing I expected was for my daughter to hold an 18th birthday party and not come home."

Coroner Donald Coutts-Wood recorded a natural causes verdict.