A 25-YEAR-OLD woman’s life was tragically cut short due to an undetected heart defect, it was revealed today.

Rebecca Phillips’ family are now waiting to hear if the condition, which claimed the life of their beloved daughter, is also carried by their two sons.

Miss Phillips was celebrating with friends at a 30th birthday party at Hadleigh Football Club on Saturday, November 13, when she collapsed.

Hours later she passed away at Ipswich Hospital.

Her mum Julie said tests have revealed the kindergarten worker had an undetected heart defect, which caused her to suffer a suspected heart attack.

But there was no warning about the tragedy to come for the Phillips family, of Bradfield Crescent, in Hadleigh.

Mrs Phillips said: “Rebecca was at her happiest and she appeared to be at her healthiest.”

Doctors have now advised Mrs Phillips’ sons, Nick, 28, and Lee, 30, to get tested to see if they share the underlying condition, which claimed the life of their “bright, bubbly and beloved sister”.

Lee said: “Learning about the condition doesn’t make it any easier. It is hard knowing this was waiting to happen.

“We just have to wait now to hear if Nick and I have the condition too.”

Mrs Phillips said: “I just wish we could have had a sign, something to let us know something wasn’t right.

“It is concerning us now that we have to get the boys screened to see if it is hereditary, and if they have the same condition.

“It just doesn’t seem real – it just feels like a nightmare.”

Around 400 people attended Miss Phillips’ funeral at St Mary’s Church, in Hadleigh, which touched her whole family.

Mrs Phillips added: “Her funeral was amazing, we were just overwhelmed.

“There were people standing and the church was packed.

“The weather was dreadful and yet around 400 people still made the effort to come.

“It was just really wonderful to see how very much she was loved by so many people on the day.”

Mrs Phillips said the reality of losing her “stunning” daughter still hadn’t sunk in.

She added: “I miss her so very much. I miss all the things I used to moan about, her loud music and clearing up.

“I would do absolutely anything to have her back.”