A GP has died after being found on fire in her back garden.

Tonight the family of Dr Julia Cross said her death was a "tragic accident".

In a statement they said: “We are very upset to have lost a lovely daughter in what now is believed to be a tragic accident.”

Dr Cross, 36, who lived in Lime Grove, Littlehampton, and worked in Ferring, near Worthing, died earlier this month.

A Sussex Police statement said: "At 12.55am on Wednesday, April 16, emergency services were called to an address in Lime Grove, Littlehampton, after the 36-year old woman living there had been reported as being on fire in the back garden.

"Officers and neighbours put out the fire with water. She was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where she sadly died later that day.

"Police are not treating the death as suspicious and the Coroner's Officer is continuing enquiries."

The surgery said on its website: "The partners and staff at the surgery are joining the community in expressing shock and sadness at the news of the tragic death of Dr Julia Cross.

"We have opened a book of condolence which patients can sign if they would like to."

Dr Cross’ colleagues at the surgery, where she had worked since May 2013, added: “We are shocked and saddened by the news of her tragic death.  Julia was wonderful to work with and a brilliant doctor, who will be greatly missed by us all.”

According to the GMC Dr Cross graduated from the University of London and was registered in 2004.

Pay tribute to Dr Cross.

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