The family of a young mum who died from a rare heart defect aged only 24 today urged doctors to be more aware of the condition.

Vicki Zurek suffered from Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome which causes the heart to beat irregularly and faster than normal.

But the mother-of-one's sister, Alex, said the death came as a bolt from the blue and she believed her sister would still be alive if she had been given more information about her illness.

Vicki was diagnosed with the condition, which causes palpitations and dizziness, when she was 12.

She was prescribed beta blockers, but Alex said Vicki stopped taking the medication when she was 15 after she was told the complaint was not life-threatening and there was nothing doctors could do but help her live with it.

Now Alex, 23, who is a staff nurse on the dermatology ward at St Luke's Hospital, Bradford, said she feels Vicki could have taken steps to help tackle the problem with the right advice.

Since Vicki died, she has discovered the condition can be treated, as the additional electrical pathway from the upper part of the heart to the lower part which causes the problem can be stopped by applying radio frequency. There is also a quick test that can be carried out to see how at risk a sufferer is.

She said: "We are not looking to blame people but I think Vicki's death could have been avoided.

"She was in intensive care for two weeks in August with severe asthma and no-one addressed the issue of her heart complaint.

"She had also just moved GPs and would have had a full medical then, but no-one said anything even though sufferers under the age of 25 are most at risk."

Alex said: "The family thinks if anything positive can come out of Vicki's death it should be that people with this condition are encouraged to ask their GPs for more information about the treatment and tests. They can also look up information themselves.

"Since Vicki died a family friend has told us she has the same condition and was also led to believe it would not kill her.

"She is now due to have the treatment herself so Vicki's death may have saved her life."

Vicki, who died on February 6, attended Yorkshire Martyrs College and was described by her sister as a family-orientated person who was very happy to be bringing up her six-year-old daughter, Lorna, now being looked after by her grandmother, Eileen Hall, 45, and her husband Martin in Tyersal.

Vicki, of Granton Street, Barkerend, also leaves her father, Roman Zurek, 48, who lives in Blackpool, sister Jacquie, 22 and brother Roman, 20, who are both in the Royal Navy, and a niece Charlotte.

A requiem mass was held for Vicki at St Joseph's Church, Pakington Street, and was followed by interment at Bowling Cemetery.