Doctor Who actress, 29, dies after suffering two seizures and collapsing in her parents’ back garden because of undiagnosed epilepsy
- Amii Lowndes, 29, was killed by sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)
- Doctors failed to diagnose condition even after Ms Lowndes suffered seizures
- Bea, her mother, revealed Ms Lowndes had seizures in 2018 and May 2020
- A consultant neurologist told Ms Lowndes the seizures could be cardiovascular
A Doctor Who actress has died aged 29 after she suffered two seizures and collapsed in her parents’ back garden because of undiagnosed epilepsy.
Amii Lowndes was killed by sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a condition which around 600 people die from each year in the UK.
Doctors failed to diagnose epilepsy despite Ms Lowndes suffering two seizures, one just weeks before her death.
Her family said she did not realise her condition could be deadly.
Bea, her mother, told The Mirror: ‘Amii first had a seizure in 2018 but we only learned about SUDEP upon her death.
Amii Lowndes (pictured) was killed by sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a condition which around 600 people die from each year in the UK
‘Both she and we would have wanted the opportunity to know that seizures, just like heart attacks, can be fatal.
Amii is pictured with her mother Bea
‘Nothing will bring Amii back but if we can save one other family going through our pain, it will be worth it.’
Amii, who featured in Doctor Who alongside Peter Capaldi in 2014 and also had parts in Casualty and Skins, collapsed in Bristol after returning from her home in London during the first coronavirus lockdown.
She had her first seizure in 2018 and another in May 2020, but a consultant neurologist failed to diagnose epilepsy.
Instead, during a phone consultation, she was told her seizures might be linked to an issue with her heart.
Because of this she was not started on the anti-epileptic medication that could have saved her life.
Giving evidence at the inquest, Prof David Chadwick said it was ‘unlikely’ the lack of treatment led to her death weeks later, on June 15.
Amii (pictured), who featured in Doctor Who alongside Peter Capaldi in 2014 and also had parts in Casualty and Skins, collapsed in Bristol after returning from her home in London during the first coronavirus lockdown
But campaigners say at least four in ten SUDEP deaths could be avoided if sufferers were offered care and information.
Amii, a fan of Shakespeare, wanted to pursue a career in theatre and spent seven years as a business development administrator for RADA – where she trained.
She was described as a ‘ray of sunshine’ by colleagues and a plan is in place to put plaques on theatre seats in her memory.
Amii’s family want to work with the charity SUDEP Action.
Senior coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict. She said she did not think a failure to diagnose and treat Amii’s epilepsy reached the threshold to conclude her death was contributed to by neglect.
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