Footballer, 27, found dead in bath days after stopping medication
Emily Wilcock, who played for Bury Football Club's Women Green team, died on August 21, 2023 at the age of 27. Her partner, with whom she was planning start a family, found her unresponsive in the bath at their home in Earls Close, Radcliffe.
However, post-mortem examinations did not find evidence to conclude that Emily had drowned. Instead, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley, who described the case as 'very unusual and very rare', concluded that Emily died from 'natural causes' linked to epilepsy.
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The conclusion came after Rochdale Coroner's Court heard on Monday (July 28) that Emily had stopped taking medication days earlier.
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The 27-year-old from Bury had been taking a 'minimal' dose of anti-epilepsy medication Lamotrigine since 2016 when her twin brother found her foaming at the mouth after sunbathing at their home before she had another suspected seizure in September of that year.
She later experienced what her mum described as 'blackouts' which would be over 'within seconds'. However, despite experiencing these episodes of fainting, the inquest heard that her doctor had doubts over whether her initial diagnosis of epilepsy was correct.
Sophie came off Lamotrigine in July 2023 having first discussed her medication and its impact on pregnancy with her doctor in January.
Dr Nazar Sharaf, a consultant neurologist at the Northern Care Alliance, told the inquest that Emily's 'minimal' dose of Lamotrigine - which was just 50mg a day - was so small that she could stop taking the medication immediately without weaning herself off it.
Within days of her coming off the medication, Emily, who was described by her sister as 'fit and healthy', was found dead in her bath.
Her partner James discovered her in the bath after he returned home from work, called 999 and performed CPR on her, but to no avail.
Dr Emil Salmo, a consultant pathologist based at the Royal Oldham Hospital, told the inquest that evidence of tongue biting and 'clenching of the jaw' was found during the post-mortem, but there was no evidence of 'trauma' during these examinations.
He explained that Emily's lungs were 'slightly above normal' in size but said that this was not enough to conclude that she drowned.
Dr Daniel du Plessis, a consultant neuropathologist, told the inquest that, after investigating other possible causes of death, including issues with her heart, but failing to obtain any positive results, he concluded that Emily died by Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy.
Ms Kearsley, who is the senior coroner for the Manchester North district, accepted his conclusion which he said was on a 'knife edge'.
She explained that she may have reached a different conclusion had Emily stopped taking her medication a year before she died.
But she told the family that, despite the timing 'tipping the balance', she could not say whether Emily's death could have been prevented had she continued taking the medication.
She said: "My conclusion is that Emily died as a result of natural causes. There was nothing unnatural about her death."
Addressing Emily's partner, she said: "I can see how missed she is and I know how difficult that night must have been for you.
"Go and remember Emily as she was and all the good things about her."
Paying tribute to Emily, her sister Sophie Wilcock, said: "She was my little sister. She was very sporty - she played football.
"I was always the talkative one growing up, but she was very, very protective and willing to speak out, especially when I do things wrong.
"She was so loving. So many people loved her."
Following her death, Bury Football Club also paid tribute to Emily. In a statement posted on their website, the club said: "Everyone who knew Emily will know she was such a lovely person with a great personality and always had a big smile on her face."
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