Amber Fountain Obituary, M27 — Amber Fountain, an aspiring lawyer remembered as a vibrant and strong young woman, has died aged 31, seven years after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest while driving home on the M27.
Amber was 24 when her heart suddenly stopped in February 2019 as she was returning from a Bear Grylls adventure experience with a friend. The medical emergency was unexplained at the time and left her with severe brain damage.
Following the cardiac arrest, Amber spent years receiving specialist care as her family supported her through a long and difficult medical journey. Despite the care she received, her condition remained severely affected by the brain damage caused by the incident.
In November 2025, after years of specialist treatment, Amber’s family made the painful decision to stop her treatment. She subsequently passed away peacefully at a hospice, bringing an end to a seven-year journey following the sudden cardiac arrest.
An inquest into Amber’s death heard that doctors had never been able to fully establish what caused her heart to stop. Experts believed an abnormal delay in the heart’s electrical recharge may have played a role. Senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson recorded a verdict of death by natural causes and reassured Amber’s loved ones that the decision to end her care was ultimately the right one.
Amber’s partner of more than a decade, Daryl Thompson, paid tribute to her infectious laugh and wonderful smile. Her parents remembered their daughter as a “vibrant and strong” woman who had been full of excitement for the future and had been pursuing her ambition of becoming a lawyer.
Mr Wilkinson also expressed his deepest sympathies to Amber’s family and commended the tenacity, love and kindness they showed throughout her years of care. Amber’s life and the years her loved ones devoted to supporting her will remain an important part of her memory. Our thoughts are with Amber’s family, partner and everyone who knew and loved her.
