British teenager, 19, collapses in shower and dies on Paris holiday after telling aunt ‘I’m fine’ 

A British teenager collapsed in the shower and died while visiting her aunt in Paris – shortly after saying she was ‘fine’.

Rhea Hourigan, 19, suffered a mysterious cardiac arrest, the cause of which remains unknown, as she was getting ready for bed.

Rhea, a student at Durham University, had been “thriving” before her sudden death and had decided to travel to Paris over the Easter break after a few days at home in Birmingham.

The apparently healthy teenager had been out all day taking in the sights in the French capital on an electric bike before disaster struck. Her heartbroken mother said her only consolation was that her daughter was “not suffering.”

Paramedics rushed to where, despite their best efforts, the young woman’s life could not be saved, and she was pronounced dead in the early hours of April 29.

Rhea’s death has devastated her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and brother Joel

The cause of the teen’s cardiac arrest is still unclear a week later, with reports saying she was not known to have any ailments and that there was no history of heart failure in her family.

Rhea’s mother Jo paid tribute to her daughter on Facebook, saying: ‘She had so many plans, dreams and ambitions that she was our shining star.

‘She hadn’t even completed her first year of college, which she absolutely loved in Durham and she’d made so many great friends.

“Our only consolation is that she was so happy and had such a great day seeing the sights of Paris that she wouldn’t have known what had happened and wouldn’t have suffered.”

Polly Townhill, a good friend of Jo’s, told me The mirror that Rhea’s aunt was worried after her niece spent a long time in the bathroom.

Her aunt knocked to say, “Is everything okay, will you come out?” She answered her, Rhea said, “Yes, yes, I’m on my way out.” Then she heard a bang…”

Polly said Rhea had full travel insurance but it doesn’t cover what the family needs, with the cost being pushed up by necessities such as an interpreter.

“There’s so much bureaucracy out there and they should consider her death extenuating,” Polly said.

Rhea’s mother Jo paid tribute to her daughter on Facebook, saying: ‘She had so many plans, dreams and ambitions that she was our shining star’

The teenager had a job as a cashier at a Nando’s outlet near her home in the West Midlands

“It would still be a tragedy without this, but her parents can’t see their child. They’re desperate to take her home.’

“Those are the two most important things I know and it means they couldn’t do an autopsy. Jo’s just seen brick wall after brick wall.”

Rhea’s family traveled to France after hearing of her death and have since returned, with her body left there awaiting an autopsy next week, according to a family friend.

It is hoped that Rhea’s body will be repatriated shortly after the autopsy is completed.

Rhea, a student at Durham University, had ‘blooming’ before her sudden death, a family friend said

Rhea’s family traveled to France after learning of her death and have since returned. Pictured: The family on vacation together (undated)

To help with costs incurred during the ordeal, friends and family raised a whopping £23,000 in one day. GoFundMe page set up for Rhea’s parents Jo and Dom.

Dawn Buchanan, who started the page, said Rhea’s death left her parents Jo and Dom, grandparents, aunts, uncles and brother Joel devastated.

Tributes have poured in for the teenager, who had a job as a cashier at a Nando’s branch near her home in the West Midlands.

Lauren Cutts, a friend of Rhea, shared on social media, “Last Friday we lost Rhea Hourigan who was beautiful, kind, ambitious and so much more. Please take a moment to read about her and donate if you can. Rest in peace Rhea.’

Friends of Rhea’s parents shared their personal heartbreak at the news on Facebook, urging people to support the “devastated” family.

“I hope everyone can contribute,” said one of the fund, describing Rhea as a “beautiful and kind young lady with the world at her feet.”