Woman, 22, dies in her sleep after silent killer illness went unnoticed

08 May 2023 , 17:21

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Jess Ball, 22, from Southport died after suffering from unexplained acute heart failure in November 2021 (Image: Liverpool Echo)

A heartbroken friend of a 22-year-old woman who died in her sleep has said how the "world will never be the same again"

Jess Ball, 22, from Southport, died after suffering from unexplained acute heart failure in November 2021.

Her death devastated her family and friends, who said the world would never be the same without her.

The University of Central Lancashire student had a promising future as an architect and her friend Lauren Beaumont-Blundell today said Jess was "full of life" and would always "light up a room".

Lauren told theECHO: "She was just super protective and just so loyal, the kind of person that would always have your back. If you were her friend she just cared so deeply about you.

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"When she walked into a room you could feel something had changed and she was just so glamorous. For everyone who knew her, I'm not sure that the world will ever be the same again."

Lauren, 22, met Jess at Greenbank High School but the pair lost touch after college and had planned to meet up, reports the Liverpool Echo.

However, Jess sadly died before they could and now Lauren is running in the Southport 10k as a way of honouring her memory.

Jess Ball from Southport was 22 when she died in her sleep (justgiving.com)

Lauren said: "There were no warning signs for her death, it was so unexpected, she was really fit and healthy. So I think because of how unexpected it was I don't think even now people have been able to comprehend that she has gone.

"The world has lost its sparkle now that she has gone, her family miss her so much. Her loss is felt enormously in so many different ways by so many different people. I think a part of everyone has gone as well."

Acute heart failure is a sudden, life-threatening condition in which the heart is still beating, but it cannot deliver enough oxygen to meet the body’s needs.

Jess Ball, 22, from Southport, died after suffering from unexplained acute heart failure in November 2021 (justgiving.com)

Lauren is raising money for The Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Charity which works to save lives, support patients and raise awareness of heart and lung conditions in both adults and children.

Lauren, a teacher, said: "I want to do this run for Jess and her memory, but she would think I was crazy doing it. I want to say thank you to everyone for the support. But mostly to her family and closest friends, I'm doing it for them as well as Jess."

If you would like to donate to Lauren's Just Giving page more information can be found here.

James McNeill