A 15-YEAR-OLD girl who battled against a rare condition from birth has died after a suspected heart attack.

Kirsty Buckley, of Duddon Avenue, Darwen, died on Sunday in Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

She had a long history of illness and had come close to death on two previous occasions, according to police.

Kirsty had a rare metabolic disorder and was brain-injured. Methylmalonic acidaemia affects only one in 250,000 people and robs those affected of the ability to digest protein, meaning even a common cold could kill them.

She often stopped breathing and needed to be rushed to hospital for treatment.

But local people took her to their hearts and raised money to help pay for treatment and equipment to make her life easier.

She also attended Dame Evelyn Fox Special School, Blackburn.

On Sunday her family took her to the Infirmary, but she had a heart attack and died.

Inspector Steve Howarth, of Blackburn police, said there were no suspicious circumstances and added: "Kirsty had been very ill and was disabled from birth.

"She had been under exceptionally close care from her parents and had come close to death on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately she died in hospital at the weekend."

Her family, including her mother Bernadette, yesterday said they were too upset to talk about Kirsty's death.