Anorexic 19-year-old died of heart attack, inquest told
Cork City coroner Dr Myra Cullinane was speaking after an inquest into the tragic death of Gráinne O’Donoghue, 19, from Carrigaline, Co Cork.
The 6.5-stone teenager, who had a body mass index of just 17, had struggled with anorexia for almost seven years before she collapsed at home on Jan 4 and subsequently died.
Assistant State pathologist Dr Margot Bolster said Ms O’Donoghue died from sudden cardiac death associated with low potassium on a background of anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Potassium is a vital electrolyte which, in the right balance of between 3.7 and 5.2, helps regulate the proper functioning of the body’s organs, said Dr Bolster.
It is especially vital for the control of the heart’s electrical system, she said. However, as Ms O’Don-oghue was vomiting every day, her potassium had reached a critically low level, triggering the fatal cardiac event. Dr Cullinane returned a verdict of death due to misadventure and offered her sympathies to Ms O’Donoghue’s family.
Young girls in this difficult situation are not aware of the “extreme danger” they put themselves in, she said.
“They can go along day-to-day quite stable but not knowing the knife-edge they put themselves on because of low potassium. It’s such a crucial electrolyte and it’s very, very sad for you,” she said.
Ms O’Donoghue’s father, Denis, told the inquest that he and his wife, Teresa, noticed a change in their daughter’s behaviour towards the end of her first year and the start of second year at Carrigaline Community School, when she began to diet with a friend.
“She seemed to become obsessed with diet and exercise,” he said.
Despite their best efforts, Mr O’Donoghue said his daughter was only officially diagnosed with anorexia when she was 18.
“There are no words to describe the loss to our family caused by Gráinne’s death,” he said.
lFor help and advice, visit www.bodywhys.ie
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
