A cause of death has been revealed for a 26-year-old woman who spent much of her early life unable to eat solid food.
Tia-Mae McCarthy, from Hampshire, England, was found unresponsive at her family home on April 28.
It's been revealed that she sadly died of aspiration, which was linked to complications from a childhood surgical procedure, the Coroner's Court for Dorset confirmed to PEOPLE.
McCarthy was born 12 weeks premature with a rare congenital disorder called Long-gap Esophageal Atresia, meaning her esophagus and stomach were not connected. The condition required surgery at just four months old.
The operation left her stomach in her chest cavity, and although she was physically capable of eating afterward, she refused all food and had to be tube-fed while she slept.
Her aversion to eating became the subject of a 2006 documentary, The Girl Who Never Ate, which followed her mother’s search for answers and included trips abroad for treatment.
When she was seven, her mom took her to a clinic in Austria where she completed a three-week program and left able to drink liquids. At 10, she began showing interest in soft foods like yogurt, soup, and ice cream. By 15, she was eating a normal diet, with salmon, venison, and scallops among her favorites, and her feeding tube was removed.
Despite her medical challenges, McCarthy’s family said she lived a happy and full life. “Her mindset was a lot younger than her physical age, so she couldn’t live independently or have a job, but she had a very full life,” her younger brother, Fin, told The Telegraph. “She loved horse riding, and she was really into her arts and crafts.”
Fin described her death as “a real shock” and said she “put a smile on everybody’s faces” and “brightened every room she entered.” He added: “To lose her so unexpectedly has been incredibly difficult for all who loved her.”
Her mother, Susan McCarthy, said in a statement read to the court that her daughter enjoyed a “simple lifestyle," and did not drink or smoke, was not in a relationship, and was not in employment due to her special needs.
Susan also shared that McCarthy had developed a cough about a week before her death, which was not unusual for her.
“We were planning to go on holiday,” she said, per The Mirror. “On Sunday, I noticed her cough was a bit rattly. I was with Tia all day on Sunday - we went out for a coffee. She was really bright and cheery and enjoyed her time at the riding club. I messaged Jason (Tia’s stepfather) and asked if Tia was OK, he told me she was still croaky."
She added: “I messaged Tia to see if she was OK, and she replied to say yes, and this was the last time I had communication with her.” The following day, she went upstairs and found her daughter unresponsive in bed.
Her stepfather, Jason Allman, said in a statement that the last time he saw her alive, she had been doing cross-stitch: “I thought her cough was a bit croaky, she sounded a bit wheezy talking to me. I put her to bed, gave her some water, and Lemsip. I went back upstairs and propped her up on her cushions.
"I heard Tia coughing occasionally and went to sleep. On Monday, I went to work - I texted Tia to check if she was all right, and there was no response," he said.
A post-mortem examination on May 1 found vomit in her stomach, which was still located in her chest cavity due to her early operation.
Her GP, Dr Lilly Chutter of Fordingbridge Surgery, said she had last been seen in December 2024 for her annual learning disability review, when she appeared happy and no concerns were identified.
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and praised the family’s care, stating: “We attend a lot of vulnerable people - Tia was incredibly well supported and cared for by her mother and stepfather.”
Recording his conclusion, Mr. Allen said: “I am satisfied on the basis of the circumstances that the cause of death is gastro-oesophageal aspiration. Tia-Mae McCarthy had a past medical condition which left her at increased risk of aspiration. She died as a consequence of a recognised risk factor of a previous surgical procedure.”
Our thoughts are with McCarthy's loved ones.