A pregnant schoolgirl has died after suffering a suspected heart attack. Her unborn baby daughter also passed away.
Fifteen-year-old Leah La Roche, a grammar school pupil from Kent, was rushed to the Maritime Hospital in Gillingham. It is currently unclear whether she died there or at home, or how far along her pregnancy was, although friends report her being seven-and-a-half months. She knew she was expecting a baby girl, and had named her Tia.
She leaves her parents, Simon and Sheila, sister Verity, 29, niece Millie and brother Zac, 13.
The youngster was engaged to her baby's father, Tom Leadbetter, 16, who led tributes to her on the gonetoosoon.org website last night, writing: R.I.P Leah and Tia i love you both so much xxxxxxx.
Leah's sister Verity also posted a message, revealing the pain the La Roche family were suffering:
'Such a cruel loss of Leah and her beautiful baby Tia. They never got to share life together with us but we all know they are together now watching over us all and Leah is being the wonderful mum we all knew she was going to be. Words can't describe the pain of losing them.
'The number of people affected by their loss is testimony to how amazing, bright, funny, loveable, bubbly, happy and wonderful Leah is and how she is loved by so many. We will miss her incredibly and never, ever forget her and her beautiful ways.'
Leah's death is now being investigated by the coroner's office.