THE family of a brilliant medical student have told of their horror after she died following routine surgery.

Lindsey Hudspeth died following a gall-bladder procedure six days after her 21st birthday.

She died in Darlington Memorial Hospital after complaining of stomach pains in the days following the operation.

Miss Hudspeth was an undergraduate at Durham University, studying medical anthropology.

Her parents, Mike and Valerie, from Leeholme, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, sister Hayley, 34, and boyfriend Ian Liddle are trying to come to terms with her sudden death.

Mrs Hudspeth said: "Lindsey was a healthy, happy girl, who had a gall bladder operation around five weeks ago.

"Afterwards, she complained of stomach pains. She went back into Darlington Memorial Hospital and died on Wednesday. We just cannot believe it.

"It was her 21st birthday just six days before she died."

An inquest into Lindsey's death, which was opened and adjourned by North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle, will examine what happened in the weeks following the operation.

Lindsey's father led tributes to the talented student yesterday.

He said: "Lindsey was a very bright girl who loved life. She was a keen musician who played the saxophone in the Durham District Band.

"She left Spennymoor Secondary School with eight GCSEs and three A-levels in psychology, chemistry and biology and was studying at Durham."

Lindsey's boyfriend, Ian Liddle, a self-employed contractor, said: "We used to take weekend breaks at her grandparents' static caravan in Northumberland. We toured the county, we loved getting into the car and just going anywhere.

"The last thing she said to me on the day she died was 'I love you too, honey'.

"All I want is to remember Lindsey when she was alive and full of life."