A middle-aged woman died after being struck down by a rare condition, an inquest heard.

Raynes Park mum Sian Reilly was a victim of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS). On Tuesday Westminster Coroner’s Court was told Mrs Reilly had a number of health problems, including depression, arthritis and alcohol addiction, but none of these were a factor in her death last year.

The court’s pathologist said an alcohol withdrawal seizure or irregular heart beat were two possible causes of death, but it was impossible to know as her body appeared to be almost completely healthy.

A worried neighbour, who had not seen her since Christmas day, called police to Mrs Reilly’s flat in Bushey Road on December 27 last year.

They forced the door and found Mrs Reilly’s body on her sofa. The 44-year-old former legal secretary had two children aged 15 and 16.

Her ex-husband was in court to hear the verdict and asked coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe for as much information about the unexpected death as possible. He said: “I have to tell my children what their mother died of.”

Dr Radcliffe recorded a death of natural causes.