THE parents of a young equestrian student at Duchy College, who died suddenly, have described their daughter as 'A Sleeping Beauty'.

Twenty-one year old Nadine Bennett, was discovered dead in her bedroom in a College house in Callington last Friday morning, by her father Alan Murray, of St Anns Chapel, accompanied by a staff member.

She was lying in her bed with a teddy bear in her arms, a gift from her 20 year old boyfriend Matt King. Her mobile phone was alongside her.

The College had raised the alarm after Nadine had failed to turn up for her studies two mornings in a row. Mrs Sue Murray took a phone call at 10am from her daughter's tutor, Nicky du Plessis, who said she was very worried about Nadine as nobody had been able to contact her.

'As soon as she spoke to me I knew instinctively that she had died' said Mrs Murray. 'Our family has a health problem known as 'sudden arrythmias death syndrome' (SADS), a chaotic irregular heart beat, from which my 33 year old sister Dawn died in 1999. I had always feared that I would not have Nadine for ever'.

A post mortem has so far revealed 'no definitive cause of death', which Mrs Murray says is exactly the same pattern when her sister died, and she firmly believes the unusual syndrome is the cause of her daughter's death.

Nadine, studying for an HND in horse studies, shared her accommodation with her boyfriend, a golfing student. They had met at the College when they enrolled at the same time in September 2000, and had become a very close couple in a loving relationship. He had given her an emerald ring for her 21st birthday in November.

Matt had rung Nadine and spoken to her at about 5am on the Thursday morning from Gatwick Airport before flying out to a study course in Spain, and was given the tragic news on the Friday by Duchy staff. Arrangements were immediately made for him to be flown home again, accompanied by another student.

Tribute

In paying tribute to Nadine, Tessa Counsell, Higher Education Co-ordinator said: 'Nadine decided to immerse herself in learning more about her beloved horses, and this love shone through in her studies and endeared her to all who came in contact with her, staff and students alike. She quickly became an integral member of her year group, a lovely group who work and socialise together, and put as much into the College as they receive. Her colleagues and staff at the College now gain strength from having known Nadine, whose loving supportive nature will be greatly missed'.

Nadine was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire and took her A levels at St Joseph's R C School in Swindon. Mrs Murray said her daughter had always loved the outdoor life and horses and when they moved to Cornwall everything seemed to click into place, and she started the course at Duchy College. She also worked as a waitress part time, at the Rifle Volunteer in the village.

'She was a happy, reliable, caring and fun loving girl who was a friend to all' she said. 'Nadine was a loving daughter, and sister to her seven year old brother Alex. She had a lovely smile and she will always be our 'Sleeping Beauty'.

Nadine's love of horses will be reflected in the funeral service at Calstock Parish Church on Friday next, February 8, at 2.30pm, to be followed by interment in Albaston cemetery. A horse drawn glass bier, specially brought down from Gloucestershire, will leave the Rifle Volunteer car park at 2pm and the family say everyone is welcome to follow behind down to the church. They have also requested that people wear something blue if possible as it was Nadine's favourite colour and there are to be no black ties.

There will be family flowers only and donations in lieu if desired, to be left at the church or given to the undertaker (Tavistock Funeral Service, 32, West Street, Tavistock), will be for a suitable horse charity and for SADS.

Mrs Murray said the family hopes to be able to set up something in Nadine's name to raise awareness about Sudden Arrythmias Death Syndrome in Cornwall. 'It is a tragic condition' she said, 'and I would urge any parents with children, who have in the past had unexplained sudden deaths within their family to find out all they can, I cannot stress this enough'.

Anyone who would like more information can contact SADS on http://www.sadsuk.org">www.sadsuk.org