A teenager who woke up with a severe headache after a night out has tragically passed away after what she thought was a “typical” hangover. Áine Rose Hurst, 19, dismissed the pain of what turned out to be a lethal blood clot in her brain. Within 48 hours, she tragically died in her mother’s arms. When Áine woke up in early March with an intense headache, she presumed it was merely a hangover.
However, when the pain persisted, she sought help from her mum, Kerry. Kerry, 52, provided her with paracetamol, an eye mask, and advised her to try to sleep, but the pain quickly escalated, and she dialled 111. During the call, Áine suddenly became unresponsive and was swiftly transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Doctors later determined she had experienced a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a rare blood clot in the brain. Two days later, on March 13, life support was turned off, and Áine passed away.
Kerry said: “Áine was the most beautiful, funny, caring girl. We will never get over losing her, but if we can save a life in her memory, that would be some small comfort to us…
“Áine presumed she had a typical teenage hangover and stayed in bed. But it got worse, and she came into my room crying. I gave her paracetamol and an eye mask, tucked her up in bed and told her to get some sleep.”
Kerry described how everything unfolded “so fast”, from feeling unwell to falling unconscious. Doctors at the hospital informed the family that the contraceptive pill was suspected to have caused the clot.
Áine was prescribed Femodette and took it for three years without any problems.
However, in December 2024, during a routine check-up on the same day she passed her driving test, her blood pressure was discovered to be alarmingly high, and she was immediately taken off the pill.
In January 2025, after her blood pressure was found to be just within acceptable limits, Áine was prescribed the pill again. Despite Kerry’s apprehensions, she and the family said they trusted the medical advice.
An inquest later confirmed Áine’s cause of death as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, with the oral contraceptive pill identified as a “potential contributing factor”.
