THE parents of an 11-year-old Binsted girl who died after suffering a night-time epileptic fit, have said in court that they want to raise awareness of the condition, to stop such a tragedy occurring again.

Becky Scrivens, a former pupil of Bentley and Eggar's schools, died from epilepsy three years after she was diagnosed as suffering from migraine.

She was found dead in her bed by her distraught father when he went to wake her in the morning.

A pathologist discovered that Becky had died from a condition known as sudden unexpected death and epilepsy (SUDAP).

On Tuesday last week a coroner at Alton Court said he hoped Becky's death would highlight the condition, which could change medical practice in the future and prevent further deaths from occurring.

The youngster's parents, Roger and Sandie Scrivens, were first told Becky was suffering from migraines after a frightening night-time attack three years ago.

They were woken by the sounds of their daughter thrashing around in her bed.

Mr Scrivens said: "During the night we were woken by extremely loud noises coming from her bedroom 10 yards from our own.

"It was around four or five in the morning. She was stiff on her bed, convulsing, teeth grated, heart racing with slight evidence of vomiting."

Becky eventually calmed down and fell into a relaxed sleep and the following morning she was taken to hospital by her mother.

There a doctor diagnosed that she was suffering from a migraine and told Sandie that if it happened again to give her half a paracetamol.

Over the next three years Becky had four more night-time attacks, but at the start of this year they became increasingly more frequent.

Mr Scrivens told the inquest that Becky had episodes in January, February and March.

Becky was seen by specialist, Dr Ayo Kadri, on May 7 this year. He decided that further tests needed to be carried out to determine exactly what she was suffering from.

Dr Kadri told the inquest: "My understanding was that Becky was having some problems at night which had been going on since 2001.

"I had an open mind on her condition and was not sure if she was suffering from epileptic seizures."

But just two months later Becky was dead.

Mr Scrivens wept as he told the inquest: "If she had been referred to a specialist with knowledge of epilepsy back in 2001 or had been advised to go back for further investigation if another seizure occurred, then the possibility of medication and further treatment could have occurred a long time earlier."

He added: "I have no interest in crucifying the medical profession, but to make people aware so it will stop this occurring again in the future."

Jane Hanna, director of Epilepsy Bereaved, told the inquest that Becky's case needed to be further investigated.

"Becky had epilepsy as early at 2001. The question is, could that risk have been reduced by better diagnosis.

"The night-time seizures which were thrashing about, the stiffening, were not consistent with a migraine diagnosis. There should have been some suspicion at that time that this was epilepsy," she said.

In recording a verdict of death by natural causes, North Hampshire Coroner, Andrew Bradley, said he hoped Becky's death would highlight the condition of SUDAP.

Outside the court Mr Scrivens, 58, who sells oceanographic research equipment, said: "I just want to raise awareness of SUDAP.

"I would hate to feel that it would take three years for someone else to find out that their daughter was actually suffering from epilepsy.

"What we were describing to doctors in Becky's case was clearly a seizure.

"I do feel that her death may have been preventable if she had been treated differently at the first stage."

Mrs Scrivens, 44, said of her daughter: "Becky was very intelligent. She had an analytical mind. I always thought she would grow up to be a lawyer.

"She was very funny and she had many friends and a lot of them confided in her."