19-year-old taekwondo champion dies after cardiac arrest in her sleep

Isabelle Sava had spent more than half her life training in taekwondo. At 19, the champion died unexpectedly in her sleep after suffering cardiac arrest, according to her family.

Emergency services fought to resuscitate her, but she could not be saved, the description on a GoFundMe campaign said. The fundraiser was created to support Sava’s parents, Laura and Ovi, after what it called the sudden loss of their only daughter.

“

It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my dear friends, Laura and Ovi Sava, who are facing every parent’s worst nightmare, the sudden and unimaginable loss of their beautiful and only daughter, Isabelle, at just 19 years old.

Sava was preparing to begin her second year studying LLB law at Queen Mary University of London. The fundraising page said she had been working toward her dream of becoming a commercial lawyer.

Taekwondo remained another major part of her life. She began training more than 10 years ago and earned a second-degree black belt after years of discipline and perseverance. In 2022, she competed at the World Taekwondo Championships in the Netherlands and won a silver medal in sparring.

“

Isabelle could not be saved.

Her academy, Trenic TKD, said Sava started at its Yeading Academy in 2015. She earned her first-degree black belt in 2019 and her second degree in 2021, later advancing as a regional and national champion before representing Team UK at the world championships.

The fundraiser had collected more than £13,900 toward a £16,000 target from over 330 donations as of Monday morning. The money was intended to cover funeral and memorial costs and other unexpected expenses facing the family.

“

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we share the devastating news of the passing of Isabelle Sava.