The Coroner for Pembrokeshire, Mr. Michael Howells, conducted an inquest at Milford Haven yesterday (Thursday) into the death of 17-year-old Dana Smith, who died last May. Giving a background to the case, PC Lewis, Haverfordwest, the investigating officer, stated that the deceased had been born at Jameston, but had later moved with her parents to live in the Midlands. About 18 months ago, she returned to live with her sister, Lucy- Anne, and brother- in- law at 2 Heritage Park View, Pleasant Valley, Stepaside, and obtained seasonal work at a take-away in Tenby. When her sister and her partner separated, she had stayed on with Robert Craig as a nanny to the two young children. Dana had been born with twisted feet, which were soon corrected medically, but she had had a history of chest infections and a hip had also been causing her much discomfort. In the week leading up to her death, she had suffered from an upset stomach, with vomiting and diarrhoea, and, probably because she had not re-registered with a local GP, she obtained some medicine from the local chemist. In evidence Robert Craig - the deceased's brother-in-law - told the court that on the night of May 5 there had been little to watch on television so, at about 9 pm, they began to play some computer games. Shortly after two friends had called around, Dana said she felt ill and went to the downstairs bathroom. When she did not return, it was assumed that she had gone to bed and the friends left after about half-an-hour. It was then that he, Robert, went to see if she was all right and he found Dana slumped in the bathroom near the toilet with little signs of life. The emergency services were called and she was rushed to hospital, but was found to be dead on arrival. Addressing the court, Dr. Stephen Polacarz, consultant pathologist, commented that this had been a very difficult case to investigate, with an extensive examination being followed by supplementary tests. He found evidence of gastro enteritis, which would account for her illness, and then carried out further investigation of micro tissues and also blood tests, in which there was evidence of cannabis having been used, but nothing that by itself would have caused death. It was, he went on, only in conversation with Dana's mother that it came to light that an uncle had died of Wolfe Parkinson White syndrome - a very rare heart abnormality - and he felt that this could very well be the true cause of death. As a result of this discovery, other members of the family were now having DNA tests, he added. The coroner concluded that this was a very rare condition which affects the beating of the heart and leads to a possible seizure. He returned a verdict of death from natural causes.