A PREGNANT mum collapsed and died due to a rare genetic heart condition, an inquest heard.

Stacey Leathwaite, 28, of Nevin Road, Blacon, suffered from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), a condition which went undetected.

She was shopping in Tesco with a friend on December 30, 2007, when she complained of feeling unwell, before doubling over in pain, collapsing and turning blue.

Bystanders gave CPR before an ambulance arrived and Mrs Leathwaite was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital, where she later died.

Attempts to deliver the premature baby via Caesarian section were unsuccessful. The baby boy was pronounced dead only eight minutes after being born.

Mrs Leathwaite had been treated for appendicitis in October 2007, and suffered from persistent bouts of internal bleeding in the weeks leading up to her death.

She had a long-term history of panic attacks, difficulty with breathing, heart palpitations and migraines.

Ian Leathwaite, Stacey’s husband, said Stacey was very good at masking how she felt.

He said: “Stacey would usually say she felt funny, or dizzy, and she would go for a lie down upstairs. She would complain about her heart.”

Mr Leathwaite, a plasterer, added the later panic attacks would likely have come as a result of the stress from the appendicitis operation and the discovery of a blood clot (a haematoma), which led to Stacey fearing she might lose the baby.

Mrs Leathwaite had been a housekeeper at Willows Nursing Home, and had previously given birth to three daughters successfully.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said the SADS may possibly have been detected during her life, but sadly no tests were carried out.

Verdict: Natural causes.