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'the ultimate resilience'

‘Miracle’ schoolgirl passed nine GCSEs despite having a HEART ATTACK during her exams

Plucky Charlotte Hall, 16, was midway through the tests when she fell ill at home one night

Charlotte Hall, 16, was halfway through the exam period when she fell ill one night

A COURAGEOUS schoolgirl passed nine GCSEs - despite having a HEART ATTACK during the exam period.

Plucky Charlotte Hall, 16, was midway through the tests when she fell ill at home one night with pains in her jaw, chest and arm.

 Charlotte Hall, 16, was halfway through the exam period when she fell ill one night
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Charlotte Hall, 16, was halfway through the exam period when she fell ill one nightCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

She was rushed to hospital where doctors said she had suffered a heart attack and detected a hole in her heart.

She spent a week in hospital before returning to school to sit her final two exams and has now been rewarded with an A* in design and technology, three As, four Bs and one E.

Charlotte, from Hartlepool, Durham, said: "I was really scared because I didn't know what was going on.

"I knew something was wrong as I had pain in my jaw, chest and arm.

 She suffered a heart attack and doctors later discovered a hole in her heart
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She suffered a heart attack and doctors later discovered a hole in her heartCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

"I was usually really healthy."

Charlotte spent May half term week in hospital before summoning the strength to sit her chemistry and history papers.

She said: "I'm really happy at the results."

She is now on long-term medication and waiting to hear about an operation to close the hole in her heart.

 She spent a week in hospital before returning to school to sit her final two exams, achieving 9 passes
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 She spent a week in hospital before returning to school to sit her final two exams, achieving 9 passesCredit: SWNS:South West News Service
 Her head of house at English Martyrs in Hartlepool said it was a "miracle"
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Her head of house at English Martyrs in Hartlepool said it was a "miracle"Credit: Google

Victoria Parker, her head of house at English Martyrs in Hartlepool, said: "We were obviously mortified that someone her age could possibly have a heart attack.

"To happen when it did was awful for her but she showed the ultimate resilience, enthusiasm and dedication to her studies.

"I think it is a miracle she was even able to come back to school and sit the exams she did."

Charlotte will return to at school in September to study A-levels in Maths, English literature, RE and psychology.

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