Isabelle Sava, a 19-year-old law student and Taekwondo black belt, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest in her sleep. She was found critically ill last Monday in Mile End, East London, and emergency crews were unable to save her.
A life of achievement
Isabelle, who was from Romania, was a student at Queen Mary University, East London, where she had been due to start her second year. She was an active member of university life and held a black belt in Taekwondo, winning silver at the world championships in the Netherlands in 2022. Her achievements were also recognised with a Jack Petchey Achievement Award, which honours outstanding young people across London and Essex.
At university, Isabelle was involved in the Law Society, Commercial Awareness Society, and Student Advancement Society, and she also tutored for Ali's Academy. She wrote a blog, and earlier this year a legal article she wrote was published by the Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre.
Family's grief
Family friend Adriana Agache described Isabelle as 'the kind of young woman other young people could look up to.' Speaking about her parents, Ovi and Laura Sava, Adriana said: 'Laura and Ovi expected to watch Isabelle begin her second year at university. They expected to watch her complete her Law degree. They expected to stand proudly at her graduation. Instead, without warning, their entire world changed. No parent should ever have to bury their child.'
A fundraising page set up to support Isabelle's family with funeral costs has raised more than £10,000.
