Schoolgirl died of heart failure

Results confirmed that liquid found in the girl’s lungs caused a shortage of oxygen to the heart which in turn resulted in an irregular heartbeat, made worse by the physical exercise during physical education class.

The teen’s mother, Onika Joseph, confirmed that her daughter had complained of chest pains on Monday. Joseph indicated that she had planned to take Kurnica to a doctor later this week.

"She could not wait," Joseph sobbed yesterday.

"Yes, I am hurting and regret what has happened, but I had financial problems. And you know how those problems are.

"What is hard is that I had just collected money to take her to the doctor, when I got a call from my friend about the incident." After learning of her daughter’s death, Joseph had to be hospitalised and sedated. She was released late Thursday night. Kurnica will be buried at the Western Cemetery after a funeral service at Janels Funeral Home Chapel, Duke Street, Port-of-Spain, from 2 pm, October 25.