A SHOCKING report which reveals a high proportion of epilepsy-related deaths could have been avoided has been welcomed by a Bewdley woman whose son died suddenly.

The Government-funded report, released on Monday, found 39 per cent of adult deaths and 59 per cent of child deaths were "potentially avoidable" and slammed poor medical management of the condition. Gren and Chris Jones are keen to see the end of the stigma surrounding the condition.

Chris Jones, 59, is keen to see an end to the stigma surrounding the UK's most common serious neurological problem, which affects more than 300,000 people nationally.

Her son Daniel Watkins was 23 when he collapsed and died without warning eight years ago yesterday, one of an estimated 500 annual "sudden and unexpected deaths" among otherwise healthy and mostly young people.

Mrs Jones and her husband Gren, Daniel's stepfather, of Stourport Road, admit epilepsy is a "taboo subject" but hope the report will be a major step forward in understanding the condition.

Former Bewdley High School student Daniel had moved to live with his sister Elizabeth in Worcester, where he worked in the county council treasurer's department, when he died while reading the papers early one Sunday morning.

Mr Jones said: "Historically epilepsy has had a very low profile. People don't like talking about anything to do with the brain."

Mrs Jones added: "There is still a stigma. Daniel didn't want anyone to know about his condition. It was hush-hush."

The report, timed to coincide with National Epilepsy Week, which ends on Saturday, was produced by Epilepsy Bereaved - the group with which the Joneses sought solace following Daniel's death - with help from five royal medical colleges.

It found many deaths had not been adequately investigated and has been cited as a "wake-up call" to the medical profession.

Daniel had had two fits, which Mr and Mrs Jones believe could have been stress-related as they came as he was preparing for his GCSEs and then when he was waiting for his A-Level results - but apparently not when he died.

"It was though his system just shut down," Mrs Jones said. "The newspaper he fell on wasn't scrunched up and it would have been if he'd had a fit."

"He had what we thought was only very mild epilepsy," Mr Jones added.

The condition restricted Daniel's lifestyle - he could not drive and had to get up about 45 minutes earlier than other people to ensure he would not bring on a fit by rushing.

But he made a big impression on people, with some who had only ever spoken to him on the telephone moved to write letters of condolence.

And it took its toll on loved ones: "It was a terrible blight. We were constantly worried," Mrs Jones said.

But she hopes the report may spark research which will prevent lives ending so suddenly in future.

Epilepsy Bereaved can be contacted on 01235 772852 while the National Society for Epilepsy number is 01494 601400.