Doctor Who actress, 29, dies after suffering two seizures because of undiagnosed epilepsy

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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 (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

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.