GIRL, 17 KILLED BY HER MOBILE; Alarm set off heart attack.

Byline: BY JEREMY ARMSTRONG

A SCHOOLGIRL died from a heart attack triggered by a mobile phone alarm - after medics failed to spot she had a rare condition.

Apparently healthy Kasia Ber, 17, collapsed at home just two weeks after teachers took her to a doctor when she suffered palpitations and breathing difficulties.

It was later found that Kasia had Long QT syndrome, but it was not discovered at the time despite further tests.

Her parents were NOT told about her visit to the GP after Kasia asked teachers to keep the trip a secret because she did not want to worry them.

But her furious family believe the school's decision could have cost Kasia her life.

They are now taking legal action against St Bede's Comprehensive, in Peterlee, Co Durham.

Kasia's distraught mum Diane, 44, said: "How could they know our child was ill and not tell the people who were in the best position to care for her? If we knew we could have done something."

Diane and her husband John 46, have waited until now to break their silence about the December 2005 tragedy because their son Christopher, 16, was a pupil at the school. Mr Ber, from Horden, Co Durham, said: "These teachers just let her go on her Christmas break with no protection and no support. These people knew she was unwell. To us she looked like a picture of health, she was perfect."

School bosses at St Bede's denied any wrongdoing because they followed a House of Lords ruling known as the Gillick Principle which means parents don't need to be informed about medical visits and health problems if the child does not want it.

An internal probe found staff acted appropriately.

Paul McKenna, headteacher added: "The complaint made by Kasia's parents was thoroughly investigated, by the school, our governing body, Ofsted and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

"On each occasion the finding was that the school's actions were entirely correct."

After Kasia's death her family faced further heartache as they had to be screened for the condition - and Diane was told she too had Long QT syndrome.

Diane was rushed to hospital to have a defibrillator fitted.

She said: "If I had been diagnosed, Kasia's life could have been saved because she would have been screened for the condition."

County Durham Primary Care Trust said: "We are unable to comment on individual cases."

To us she looked like a picture of health. She was perfect

KASIA'S DAD JOHN BER

CAPTION(S):

DANGER Phone set off heart attack; TRAGIC Schoolgirl Kasia Ber, 17, who seemed to be healthy