• Jessica Ashton-Pyatt was on a half-term break with friends at Butlin's in Skegness
  • She was so violently ill her stomach burst, triggering a heart attack
  • Doctors said they 'had never come across such a case'
  • Jessica's friends held a celebration of the talented young writer and artist's life

By Adam Shergold

PUBLISHED: 04:35 EST, 25 November 2012 | UPDATED: 09:22 EST, 25 November 2012


A 14-year-old girl died during a holiday with friends after a mystery illness caused her stomach to rupture while she was being violently sick.

Jessica Ashton-Pyatt was enjoying a break at Butlin's holiday camp in Skegness when she was so ill her stomach burst triggering a heart attack.

She was rushed to hospital where accident and emergency staff battled to save her life.

Tragic: Jessica Ashton-Pyatt,11, died when she was so violently sick her stomach ruptured during a holiday with friends at Butlin's in Skegness

Tragic: Jessica Ashton-Pyatt,11, died when she was so violently sick her stomach ruptured during a holiday with friends at Butlin's in Skegness

But hours later, her distraught mother Nicola had to say farewell at her bedside after doctors were unable to save her.

Mrs Pyatt, 32, had been at home in Clayton, Staffordshire when she received a phone call from Butlin's saying Jessica had been taken ill during her half-term break at the Lincolnshire resort.

Jessica was rushed to the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, where her condition rapidly deteriorated as she died on October 28.

When Mrs Pyatt and her husband Andy had reached the hospital, they were told the ruptured stomach had caused irreparable damage and there was no hope of the teenager surviving.

'They had been having a ball on the Friday,' said Mrs Pyatt. 'Then on the Saturday, Jessica wasn't feeling well.

'I found it really hard to take. The doctors said they had never come across such a case.

'When they said there was nothing more they could do, my first words were, 'No, she can't die. I've already got her Christmas presents.' I told them they had to do something.'

Half-term holiday: Jessica had been staying at the Butlin's holiday camp in Skegness with friends when she was taken ill

Half-term holiday: Jessica had been staying at the Butlin's holiday camp in Skegness with friends when she was taken ill

Jessica's funeral was held this week and her entire year group at Thistley Hough High school in Penkhull formed a guard of honour as her horse-drawn coffin travelled past the school.

Her friends also staged a celebration of her life at the school, featuring songs, Jessica's own stories and video clips.

Mrs Pyatt, who attended the celebration with her husband, added: 'I'm overwhelmed and amazed by what they've done in memory of Jessica.'

The school are now planning a memorial garden and art award to honour Jessica, who was a talented artist and writer.

Emergency: Jessica was taken to the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, where she died a short time afterwards. Doctors said the rupture had caused irreparable damage

Emergency: Jessica was taken to the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, where she died a short time afterwards. Doctors said the rupture had caused irreparable damage

Headteacher Holly Hartley said: 'It's such a tragedy. Jessica was one of the brightest students and had a wide circle of friends.'

Greg Beaudro, 15, one of her friends added: 'Jessica was one of the best. I don't think I ever saw her when she wasn't smiling.'

Jessica's three brothers - Lewis, 12, Thomas, seven, and Charlie, four - have also been struggling to cope. Lewis said: 'We had lots of arguments, but I love her. She did a good job of being a sister to me.'


The comments below have not been moderated.

To Nicola and Andy Pyatt and the rest of your family: some of the people who comment on articles in the DM do so because they get off on being shocking, heartless and thoughtless. However, please take comfort in the fact that a larger number of those who comment, plus the many thousands who will have read this story without commenting, will be thinking of you and the loss of your beautiful and talented Jessica and wishing you strength and courage to endure your grief and build on her memory and ensure that Lewis, Thomas and Charlie remember their sister and the love she brought to you all. Please accept my sincere condolences.

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Angela de vile and teflon and unfortunately others...you are quite simply trolls and bullies. Words fail me as usual at the sick and bitter people who comment here.

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I find it totally unbelievable that someone who has lost a child or anyone for that matter could be reading the DM at all, let alone read or write comments here. Does it really matter what strangers think, really? Is this what it has come down to now, grief by media. Sad indictment on society. - Angels be damned . , North of London, 25/11/2012 18:01--------------Who are you to judge what someone else does when they are grieving-i recently lost my dad and for weeks kept reading his orbituary in the paper-i dont know why i did this but i did,we all react differently,shes missing her daughter whos in the paper so for me its natural to read about her.Cant believe that poor mother has to defend herself to ignorant people when shes gone through enough pain already-RIP Jessica!

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I am appalled at the comments on here , whether it be speculation or questioning parenting etc. Some people have no compassion. My family has experienced the death of a child & I had to witness the overwhelming grief of the parents. It is going to be hard enough for them, long after you lot have moved on with your lives so why post such comments. I hope you can face yourself in the mirror tomorrow.

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This is so incredibly sad. Nicola - if you're still read comments, my heart goes out to you and everyone who was close to jessica. can't imagine what your going through :( but please IGNORE any ignorant/judgemental/negative comments posted on here. in the media, people will always be misquoted, and even if they're not, there will always be readers who misinterpret a story, and there will always be a proportion unsympathetic comments on here, as a result of idiocy, callousness and the sheer fact that its so EASY to say things when your hiding behind a computer.so please please just focus on yourself, your family and your beautiful daughter's memory. praying for you.

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Very very sad story. i am shocked by the negative and judgemental comments on here. No mother should ever lose her child in this way. I hope none of you ever go through that kind of pain in your lifetime.

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So sad. No parent should ever have to bury their child. RIP Jessica.

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I do not read the DM my daughters head teacher rang me and told me to look at the article and as for commenting I was sticking up for my daughter like any GOOD parent would As for her christmas presents you are ridiculous of cause im not going to take them back what a stupid comment im just devestated she wont get to enjoy them, they have atcually gone with her in her coffin some people on here need to get a reality check!! I have a right to reply!!!

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Teflon NotRome United Kingdom 17.55: Your latest remark is outrageous. This poor mother has just lost her only daughter! I've no doubt Jessica's mother is on this site because she can't manage to concentrate on anything else at the moment. She will still be in a state of shock & frankly unable to concentrate on anything or feel like doing anything. Try & put yourself in her position - it must be utterly awful for her. It's a tragic situation & she has my utmost sympathy.

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Kitty Softpaws, San Francisco:- You still don't get it do you? The reason you have the red arrows - think about it. This poor child had not been drinking - she was ill!--Bubbles , East Midlands, United Kingdom, 25/11/2012 17:36======Bubbles, I never made any comment to the effect that I thought she was drinking. What is it YOU aren't getting? Let it go, I do not want to have to defend anymore of my comments. I don't want to be any part of anything further that offends Nicola Pyatt, I think she has read ENOUGH from people surmising what her daughter's actions were. The important thing is that this family is grieving and we should just respect that.

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