A schoolgirl who died unexpectedly had been voted prom queen, it has emerged.

Sixteen-year-old Lucy Goulding was due to attend her end-of-school prom last Friday, but died the day before.

Chatsmore Catholic High School cancelled the prom after she died.

Lucy, of Ringmer Road, Worthing, spent the previous weekend revising and completed a GCSE exam on the Monday.

She was taken to hospital on Thursday but died after an emergency operation at Southampton General Hospital.

Grandfather Chris Goulding said: “It’s really sad because she had been working so hard. They were saying when they were doing their exams they’d counted the votes for prom queen and she had won.

“[Lucy’s death] is something we didn’t expect. It’s just very unfair on the poor girl.”

Friends have been wearing orange ribbons in tribute to Lucy’s prom shoes.

A statement on the school website said: “Our community is devastated at the news and is trying to come to terms with such a tragic loss.”

A funeral date has not yet been set.