An 18-year-old woman with epilepsy tragically died after experiencing an unexpected seizure while talking on the phone to her boyfriend. Ellen May Hardwick, known as Ellie, had been diagnosed with epilepsy at age five but had always been able to recognize warning signs minutes before a seizure, allowing her to position herself safely. She had not had a seizure for 12 months.
No Warning Signs
On December 29, 2025, Ellie suffered a seizure without any forewarning while speaking to her boyfriend, Aidan Healy, 19. This triggered a fatal cardiac arrest. Her father, James Hardwick, 52, had just left the house after saying goodbye when he received a call from a neighbor urging him to return. He arrived to find his wife, Paula Hardwick, 54, distraught as paramedics performed CPR.
Ellie died rapidly from cardiac arrest, a condition known as SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). She is survived by her parents, siblings Connor, 20, and Violet, 17, and her boyfriend Aidan.
Raising Awareness
James, an online business owner from Chelmsford, Essex, is committed to raising awareness about SUDEP and plans to establish a charity in Ellie's name. He said: "As Ellie got older, she began to grow out of the seizures - there were longer periods between them. We know it had been almost a year since her last one, because she wanted to start driving lessons and come off some of her medication."
On the day of her death, Ellie had been laughing on the phone to Aidan. James recalled: "Before I left, I went up to her bedroom, and she said 'see you later Dad, love you.' Two hours later, I got the call that she wasn't breathing. I couldn't believe it, she was just gone - just like that - we had no idea she could die just like that."
Warning Signs
Ellie typically recognized warning signs 10 minutes before a seizure, such as things looking different or her vision flashing. This had always given her time to get to a safe position. However, on December 29, she told Aidan "I don't feel very well" right before the seizure, with no warning. James added: "Her mum had heard her go bang on the floor, and I rushed back but Ellie had gone straight into a seizure."
The family did not know the cause of death until post-mortem results arrived three weeks ago. Ellie was laid to rest on April 23 after a community fundraiser raised over £8,100 for funeral costs.
Fundraising and Legacy
The family has set up a fundraiser for three charities: Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, Epilepsy Society, and SUDEP Action. James is also preparing to establish a charity in Ellie's memory to campaign for greater awareness and research into epilepsy. He said: "I don't want Ellie's name to be lost in the past, I want it to be carried forward."
Ellie's fundraiser can be found at https://ellenhardwick.muchloved.com.
