Talented teen Abigail, 18, dies after epileptic fit

SALTASH PUPIL LOVED MUSIC AND PLAYED IN A BAND

- KATIE TIMMS

A “beautiful” and talented Saltash teenager sadly passed away after suffering an epileptic fit at home last month. Abigail Eldridge, aged 18, was found unresponsive in her bed on May 12 and sadly died at Derriford Hospital.

The Saltash Community School pupil, who previously lived in Somerset, has been described as a “loving and supportive sister” to her older brother Charlie, as well as being a “caring friend with a great sense of humour”.

Abigail first suffered a seizure in the car at 15 years old and this later led to her diagnosis. She suffered from two types of seizures, tonic-clonic and absence seizures and her mum, Michelle Eldridge, hopes she can help raise some awareness of the condition.

“Not everyone knows about SUDEP [Sudden Unexplained Death of Epilepsy], I learnt about it after she died.” The Epilepsy Foundation describes SUDEP as: “The sudden, unexpected death of someone with epilepsy, who was otherwise healthy. In SUDEP cases, no other cause of death is found when an autopsy is done.”