'˜Brilliant' Leeds postgraduate died from rare disorder

THE MOTHER of a 27-year-old Leeds woman who collapsed and died suddenly from a very rare blood disorder soon after securing her dream job said it was a 'sad end to a brilliant life'.

Postgraduate Holly Marston had spent years studying archaeology and artefacts conservation and had worked on placement at museums in Leeds, including the Royal Armouries.

She had only been working full time as a senior conservator a Clifton Park Museum, in Rotherham, for a few months when she collapsed in the shower at the shared house she lived in on Cardigan Road, Headingley, on July 25 last year.

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An inquest at Wakefield heard house mates were concerned she had been in the shower a long time before one, Joe Brinton, broke down the bathroom door and tried to revive Miss Marston.

Paramedics arrived and she was confirmed dead at the scene.

The inquest was told Miss Marston had told friends she had been feeling unwell in the days leading up to her death.

Extensive tests and experts’ opinions following a post mortem revealed Miss Marston died from rare blood disorder Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP).

Miss Marston’s mother Fiona said after the hearing: “It’s such a sad end to a brilliant life, so promising.”

Her father Phillip, said: “It was definitely her dream job.

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“Since her teenage years it was always something she fancied doing. So she had studied archaeology at university and then done a masters. She was really excited about finally getting to do what she wanted to do full-time.”

Blood disorder TTP occurs when blood clots form in small blood vessels in the body.

The clots can limit or block the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the major organs.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff said: “For reasons we don’t entirely understand, she developed this TTP condition.”

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