A student who was a "rare combination of beauty and brains" died suddenly from meningitis despite having had a vaccine to protect her from the illness, an inquest heard.
Halle O'Brien was rushed to the Royal Liverpool Hospital after falling ill at university, but sadly died a short time later on January 27.
A coroner today ruled the 19-year-old, from Litherland, Merseyside, died from Group A streptococcal septicaemia, which caused her to contract meningitis.
Halle had been studying English at Edge Hill University and her proud family said she had been achieving firsts in her degree course, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Describing her as "incredibly beautiful, sweet and intelligent" her heartbroken family told how their daughter had dreamed of going to university and had set her sights on becoming a teacher.
While studying she also met her fiancé, Edward Rooney.
In a touching tribute her grief-stricken family - including mum Heather and dad Michael - told the Liverpool Echo: "Halle had achieved everything she had set out to at her young age so far.
"She was getting firsts on her university course, making her family proud and was in a loving relationship.
"Halle was a true enigma, a gem.
"(She is) to be remembered for the incredible impact she had upon everybody she was in contact with and she set an incredible example of how to be a young woman.
"She was a rare combination of beauty and brains, however humble to it all. Halle was unique."
The family revealed Halle had been given the meningococcal vaccine but had still contracted the deadly disease.
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At her inquest her death was recorded by Coroner Andre Robello as "natural causes".
Addressing her grieving family in court, Mr Robello said it was not possible to say whether Halle's death could have been avoided.
He also urged the family to remember "loving memories of Halle" rather than remember her with sadness.
He said: "This was clearly a typical septicemic illness and Halle died of natural causes.
"It was a fatal streptococcal infection and you can't say [going back in time] it could have been avoided.
"The young lady who died will have, in her life, have had far more joyful, happy and loving memories than sadness.
"It is really important to talk about her, share photos of her and reinforce those memories.
"Halle needs to be remembered for her life as opposed to what is written on her death certificate.
"Celebrate her life and don't let her death overshadow that."
