AN inquest heard that a rare heart condition could have claimed the life of a promising Huddersfield Technical College student.
Christopher Hobson, 19, died on December 13 while housesitting for his grandparents at their home at Royd Wood, Cleckheaton.
The inquest in Huddersfield heard that Christopher's mother, Julie Palmer, gave him a lift to Royd Wood at tea time on December 13.
He asked her to drop off his bass guitar because he needed it for college the following day.
He was studying for a National Diploma in Music Practice at Huddersfield Technical College.
At 7.45pm, Mrs Palmer returned home to Foldings Grove at Scholes, Cleckheaton, where her husband John, Christopher and his younger brother Matthew - now 13 - also lived.
Just after 8pm, Mr Palmer went to Royd Wood to drop off Christopher's guitar.
However, he received no answer at the door and returned home.
After trying to contact Christopher by phone and text message, both his parents went to Royd Wood at 9.45pm.
The lights and TV were on but there was no answer at the door.
Mr and Mrs Palmer contacted Christopher's girlfriend to see if he was with her, but she had not seen him.
The door was locked so Mr and Mrs Palmer called the police, who forced open the door and discovered Christopher in the living room.
He was sat in a chair, as if watching TV, but no signs of life were found.
Paramedics were called and Christopher was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the 12 months before his death, Christopher had been completely healthy - except for several isolated dizzy spells.
A post-mortem failed to reveal what killed Christopher and further tests were ordered, including examinations of Christopher and his family's medical history.
Pathologist Dr Andrew Jackson said the most likely cause of death was a heart condition known as Long QT Syndrome.
This prolongs the time between heartbeats, meaning the heart muscle does not contract properly.
This means less blood is pumped to the body and brain - leading to fainting or dizzy spells.
If the heart cannot regain its normal rhythm, it goes into a spasm known as ventricular fibrillation.
This is fatal within minutes unless emergency treatment is given.
Dr Jackson said Christopher would have felt no pain.
He said: "It is just like switching off."
He added that Long QT Syndrome can be controlled with treatment, but one third of sufferers had no symptoms and people often went undiagnosed.
Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict of death from natural causes.
