On the night of April 2, 2024, she went to bed like she always did, nothing out of the ordinary. Her father, Steven Pritchard, remembers how his daughter simply went to sleep \u201dnormally.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when he woke up the next morning, Matilda was gone. Her parents, Steven and Anna, tried everything to rouse her, but when they couldn\u2019t, they called paramedics. Sadly, they weren\u2019t able to revive her either. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors immediately pronounced her dead \u2013 her cause of death was cardiac arrest.<\/p>\n
Showed no signs of the illness<\/h2>\n
According to the family, Matilda passed away peacefully in her sleep, from an undiagnosed heart condition called Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. ARVC is a genetic condition where the heart muscles are weaker than usual, making it harder for the heart to pump blood.<\/p>\n
This can lead to serious problems, like sudden cardiac arrest, which can be fatal.<\/p>\n
ARVC affects 1 in 1,000 people. Matilda showed no signs of the illness until the tragic moment she passed away in her sleep.<\/p>\n
Matilda\u2019s death made her parents deeply concerned for their other daughter, Olivia. Since the condition could be hereditary, they quickly had her tested.<\/p>\n
\u201dShe\u2019s 14, and symptoms usually start around 13. But everything\u2019s come back completely clean \u2013 we\u2019re all fine,\u201d Steven told\u00a0Daily Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy can\u2019t be cured. However, there are treatments available, including medication and the option to implant a pacemaker. If the condition had been detected in time, Matilda might still be here today.<\/p>\n Now, her family is doing everything they can to honor her life and memory. Matilda was passionate about the environment and dreamed of a cleaner world, free from garbage and toxins in the soil.<\/p>\n A huge animal lover, she dreamed of a world without rubbish.<\/p>\n She regularly picked up litter in her local park, finding joy in seeing a clean space after her efforts. Matilda\u2019s dedication didn\u2019t go unnoticed. In 2023, she was thrilled to receive a\u00a0Blue Peter green badge<\/a>\u00a0for her hard work.<\/p>\n Mr. Pritchard said, \u201dIt\u2019s been catastrophically terrible \u2014 but I\u2019m hoping we can start the process of our little girl\u2019s dream, of a world without litter.\u201d<\/p>\nPassionate about the environment<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2024\/12\/13122738\/justgivingmatilda.jpg\")
\u201d11 years of laughter and silliness\u201d<\/h2>\n