BBC Three star Jasmine Burkett who appeared in dwarfism reality show Small Teen Bigger World died after overdosing on antipsychotic drug Quetiapine, inquest hears
- Former teenage reality star Jasmine Burkitt, 28, was found dead in a tent in June
- Burkitt shot to fame in 2010 in BBC Three documentary Small Teen Bigger World
- Both she and her mother had dwarfism and she was determined to live normally
- An inquest into her death was opened today and adjourned until a later date
A BBC Three star who appeared in the dwarfism reality TV show Small Teen Bigger World died after she overdosed on the antipsychotic drug Quetiapine, an inquest has heard.
Jasmine Burkitt, 28, died at her home at Bodelwyddan, North Wales, in June earlier this year – 12 years after she shot to fame in the four-part documentary.
At 3’11 tall, she was determined to show she was just like any other teenager and won plaudits for her frankness as she shared details of her day-to-day life.
But speaking at the opening of her inquest today, Coroner John Gittins at Ruthin said there had been a decline in her mental health.
She was subsequently found unresponsive in a tent in which she had lived with her fiancé Lewis Burke, who had been in hospital at the time of the tragic incident for a straightforward heart operation.
‘Jazz’ was identified by her partner’s mother who had found her.
Tests later found she died due to toxicity from Quetiapine, antipsychotic medication used for treating depression.
Her death left her family and friends ‘shattered’.
Both Burkitt (pictured) and her mother Bev suffered from an undiagnosed form of dwarfism of which doctors were unable to find a cause
Paying tribute on social media, her beloved fiancé Mr Burke said: ‘She is the most incredible human that ever walked this planet, she is the strongest, funniest, most kindest and purely decent person I’ve ever known.
‘I am truly devastated. She changed my life forever and I’ll never be the same.’
Her grandfather Norman Burkitt said her death had rocked her family.
‘She was a fantastic girl- so clever and bright with her drawing and stuff,’ Mr Burkitt said. ‘She broke all sorts of viewing records at the BBC and got two awards.
‘This has shattered us, we have had no sleep. Everyone will miss her.’
Small Teen, Bigger World aired in July 2010 and followed Burkitt’s life over 12 months, capturing her 16th birthday, a trip to New York and her efforts to track down her birth father.
She also described her experiences of bullying at school and being injured after a boy threw her in the air.
Burkitt appeared in the show while living in Colwyn Bay, north Wales, as a registered carer for her 3’7 mother Bev, who suffered lung and breathing problems and died in 2014.
Both had an undiagnosed form of dwarfism for which doctors were unable to find a cause.
Both Burkitt (pictured) and her mother Bev suffered from an undiagnosed form of dwarfism of which doctors were unable to find a cause
Last year, Burkitt and her partner were living in a tent in Welsh woodland after they were unable to secure a council property.
They described their experiences camping in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire, with their dog Loki, on social media.
Burkitt, a talented photographer, said their camping life was ‘magical’.
She wrote: ‘I think tent life has saved us and made us. Of course there are downsides as I am a bit more vulnerable with my health history.’
‘Some of the days over the summer living next to a river are some of the happiest I’ve ever spent. I like being away from people quite a lot and just being amongst nature.’
In an Instagram post in January, Burkitt told her 3,500 followers that she had been hospitalised for her physical and later mental health but was looking forward to rejoining Lewis and their dog.
The couple had recently acquired a caravan and planned to transform it into a home.
A full inquest into her death will take place at a later date.
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