FRIENDS and family of a 19-year-old who died suddenly have paid glowing tributes to their “fighter”.

Fern Ritchie, from Brighton, died after a complication with a rare disease she was diagnosed with in 2014.

The former Dorothy Stringer pupil was told by doctors she had a strain of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which affects one in 250,000 people.

She was a talented dancer and instructor at Southern Knights performing arts group based in Hove, where her younger sister Neeve, 16, was also a member.

Her boyfriend Jordan Groom, 21, from Southwick, has been left devastated and described how Fern made him a stronger person.

Speaking to The Argus, he said: “She was a pleasure to be with and although I’m going to miss her and never forget her, I’m extremely happy that I got to be with her for the time I did.”

The pair met working at Corals Greyhound Stadium in Hove, and they got together within two months of meeting.

Mr Groom added: “We went to Barcelona for our anniversary in January and that was really special, but there are so many memories that it’s hard to pinpoint the highlights. It was just everyday life for me.

“She was always up for a laugh and she was just so thoughtful all the time.

“I feel every decision she made, she kept my best intentions at heart.

“She was so organised too. She knew what she wanted to do two years from now, let alone two weeks.”

The couple had recently moved to Shoreham because, in Fern’s words, “it was cheaper”, but she had an eye on moving back to Brighton and spending time living in America.

Mr Groom must now write a speech for Fern’s funeral next week.

He said: “The hardest part is how to begin it, because I’ve got so many options to talk about but I’ll have to keep it short because after a couple of minutes I’ll be gone.”

Miss Ritchie died on April 14. Friends flooded her Facebook timeline with touching messages.

Her sister Neeve posted pictures of herself, Fern and their older brother Lloyd, 22, and wrote: “I miss you, can't believe you're gone. You were so strong and such a fighter. Finally at peace. I love you so much, you’ll always be my sister.”

Fern’s parents Sue and Grant Ritchie said their daughter had a close relationship with her siblings.

They said: “She was always immensely proud of their achievements and will be desperately missed by them.”

Friend Hannah Crabtree said: “You were the one person who made me laugh uncontrollably, the one who stuck up for me when no-one else would, the one who put up with my moaning, the one who could turn all my frowns upside down, and the one who was just always there.

“Thank you for making the sun, moon and stars shine so much brighter.”

FACTFILE 

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a collection of inherited conditions affecting the skin, tendons, ligaments and bones.

Symptoms can include joint hypermobility (increased mobility of joints), stretchy skin and tissue fragility.

There is no cure, and although the majority of sufferers will have their life expectancy lowered, a mutation or certain strains of the disease can be life-threatening.

Talking about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Jordan Groom, Fern Ritchie’s grieving boyfriend added: “We just want to raise as much awareness as possible for it, because that’s what’s taken her away from us.

“We want to raise the profile of Ehlers Danlos in any possible way to help anyone else with the condition.”

The chosen charity for the funeral is Ehlers Danlos Support UK at ehlers-danlos.org.

BOYFRIEND'S MOVING TRIBUTE

I'm at your house just lying in your bed.

There's so much I want to say to you but I'm feeling so speechless.

I'm missing you so much already and I know it's going to get harder before it gets any better.

I'm so proud of you and the person you became and the person you helped me become.

I have so much to thank you for and I'm really going to miss you and I'll never ever forget you, I truly believe that and I hope you know it.

I know you would be shocked by how many people it's affecting that you have gone, I just can't get my head round it, seems like yesterday we were planning our future and just like that it's been taken away not just from me but from you.

Far too young and far too full of life.

I'm so happy that I got to fall in love with you, spend so much time with you and know you the way I did.

I never thought something like this would happen to me and I'm in pieces, but thanks to you I'm a strong man and I’ll cope.

I just cannot believe you have been taken away from me, nothing is stopping the pain right now I just want to see you and give you a cuddle, oh how I'll miss your cuddles.

Hope you’re sleeping well, sweetie, stars are out tonight – just how you used to like them.

I love you, Fern Ritchie.