Tragedy of struggling teenager found dead in bed by mum following cardiac arrest

A teenager found dead in bed by his mother having suffered a cardiac arrest earlier complained of feeling sick and 'overwhelmed', an inquest heard. George Edwards, 18, was found unresponsive at Altrincham home on November 12, 2021.

He was tragically pronounced dead at the scene - clutching a teddy - when police and paramedics arrived. An inquest at South Manchester Coroner's Court overseen by assistant coroner Anna Morris heard heartbreaking testimony from George's mother Tracy.

She said she checked on him that morning and found him 'lifeless'. In the week leading to his death, Ms Edwards said her reported feeling 'overwhelmed' and had vomited.

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The day before his death, he told his mum he had a headache, a sore throat and that 'his lungs felt funny'. Pathologist Dr Vicki Howarth said the evidence suggested George suffered a loss of blood flow to his heart some hours before his death, but there was 'no evidence as to the cause of the initial cardiac event'.

The inquest heard George struggled with depression for a number of years and had a breakdown at the age of 15. Ms Edwards said her son, who had boundless energy, started to struggle when he started high school.

"He was gentle, he wasn't a sportsman, I just think he found it very overwhelming," she told the court. He just started to struggle. He was very clever and very intelligent and he was just over-aware and thought about everything.#

"I think that awareness made it really hard for him. He went from being really lively to almost trying to make himself invisible at school."

Ms Edwards said she tried to apply for additional support and would often take her son to the gym and to private