A young woman with big dreams and an even bigger heart has died suddenly at home.

Safiya Stewart, 18, a student at MidKent College, was found at her home on St Mary’s Island on Saturday.

With plans to go out as a family to the Chatham Food and Drink Festival that day, mum Carol went into her room to wake her, but found her unresponsive.

Safiya had epilepsy and it is thought a seizure may have led to her death, but the family are awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The remarkable young woman had her life path mapped out already and was determined not to let her condition stop her succeeding, even though it did limit many of her choices in life, such as being able to drive.

“This was always my biggest fear, but I did everything to keep that from Safiya. I’m so proud to have been her mum” - Mum Carol

She was passionate about cooking and would even lovingly kick her own mother out of the kitchen to experiment and create. She dreamed of opening her own restaurant.

Mum Carol said: “She was a young, ambitious lady with a beautiful and generous spirit.

“She was courageous and I’m proud that she was a person with a positive energy.

“She wouldn’t let her epilepsy get in the way of what she wanted to do and she always encouraged others.

“This was always my biggest fear, but I did everything to keep that from Safiya. I’m so proud to have been her mum.”

The hard worker had a part-time job at Sainsbury’s in Chatham as well as studying hospitality and catering and working at McLeod’s Restaurant & Bistro in the college campus in Gillingham.

She was keen to serve up European dishes with a Caribbean twist and, convinced of her daughter’s future success, Carol reserved her the name Noir Maison with Companies House as a 17th birthday present.

Carol added: “Safiya loved to cook. She would often kick me out of the kitchen to take over and she came into her own at college. I could see her talent growing.”

The teenager was also much admired for how much good she did for the community.

Safiya was incredibly active with the Medway African Caribbean Association, of which her mother is the chairman.

But off her own back she set up Young People United alongside it, a group to unite and celebrate cultural diversity and promote opportunities for young people.

The group launched in November and Safiya worked tirelessly to secure funding and get in professional dancers and singers.

She was also one of the finalists in the Black Youth Awards last year for all her work.

"She would often kick me out of the kitchen to take over and she came into her own at college. I could see her talent growing...”- Mum Carol

As well as her career and volunteer work, she was also planning a gap year in New Zealand and dancing as part of a troupe called Urban Steps.

The moment Carol found her daughter, she called an ambulance and Safiya’s elder brother performed CPR.

Carol said: “I really thought she would come back to me.

“It is such a huge loss to this family, and to all her friends.

“It’s a very difficult time for us all and I’d just like to thank everyone for their kind words and support.”

Safiya had seizures in the past, but her worst was the day after her 16th birthday which was when she was diagnosed with the condition.

Shortly before Christmas, she was put on strong medication to get it under control but a recent meeting with her specialist found everything was fine, and both she and Carol were given no reason to have any unnecessary worries.

Carol said: “I don’t want people to hear about Safiya and be terrified of epilepsy.

“If you’re worried about it, please go and see your GP and join a support group. Safiya never let it stop her.”

The family are now planning a celebration of her life.

Having worked alongside Safiya during last year’s Love Music Hate Racism festival, Medway’s Labour leader and organiser of the event paid tribute to the teenager.

Cllr Vince Maple said: “Safiya was a young woman with such huge potential and a real zest for life.

“During Love Music Hate Racism Safiya was bringing lots of ideas to the table.

“She wanted a great community and to make the world a better place."

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