A tragic teen died on holiday in a hotel bathroom due to an undiagnosed heart condition. A post-mortem revealed Daniel Smyth from Coleraine had cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat.
The 19-year-old was oblivious to the condition and on a family holiday in Sunny Beach in Bulgaria last week, the student collapsed and died instantly, reports the Mirror.
Speaking from her County Derry home, Daniel's cousin Ellen Devenney-Adams said: "He had a heart condition, which he did not know about. It was a ticking time bomb basically because it was inevitable, it just happened to occur when he was on holiday."
Daniel began to feel unwell and went to bed early on Saturday, June 17, and woke in the early hours of Sunday morning. The tragic teen went to the bathroom but collapsed, smashing into and breaking part of the toilet, shower door and sink.
The bathroom was flooded and this alerted the staff who found Daniel's body. The post-mortem confirmed alcohol played no part in his death.
Ellen, 26, continued: "We got a phone call with news about the post-mortem today. Doctors found he had this irregular heartbeat, called cardiac arrhythmia.
"He was a fit and healthy 19-year-old boy otherwise. It was just one of those things. His family are heartbroken and gutted. No one saw this coming at all.
"I can't imagine what they (immediate family) are feeling because Daniel was so close to everyone."
Daniel had just been accepted to study at Norwich University of the Arts, after finishing a course in Interactive, Creative Media at college.
From a young age graphic design had been Daniel's passion in life as Ellen described him as "a talented artist".
The family have raised thousands of pounds to help bring Daniel's body home. Following his tragic death, Daniel leaves behind a younger sister and brother.
Ellen said: "Dylan was only 15 months younger so there was a big bond there. He was close to all of us though really.
"He didn't dislike anybody. He was just a very loving, bubbly and open boy. He had a special bond with every single member of the family in a different way.
"This is just going to change the family dynamic forever."
To contribute to the fund, click this link.
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