Cause of Death Revealed for Woman Who Couldn’t Eat as a Child

A cause of death has been revealed for a 26-year old U.K. woman who struggled to to eat normally as a child and instead relied on a feeding tube.

Tia-Mae McCarthy died of aspiration, which she was at an increased risk for due to her past surgery, the Coroner’s Court for Dorset confirmed to PEOPLE.

Her body was found at home on April 28.

As a child, McCarthy was featured in the documentary The Girl Who Never Ate.

She was born 12 weeks early with a congenital disorder called Long-gap Esophageal Atresia, meaning her esophagus and stomach were not connected.

The condition required surgical intervention, which she underwent when she was 4 months old.

Post-surgery, however, McCarthy was still not able to eat for years and relied on a feeding tube, although doctors believed the reason was psychological, not physical.

When she was 7, her mother brought her to a clinic in Austria in which she participated in a three-week program and was able to drink liquids when she departed.

A few years later, around 10 years old, she began eating and by 15 was living on a normal diet, according to The Telegraph. Her feeding tube was also removed.

“Her mindset was a lot younger than her physical age, so she couldn’t live independently or have a job but she had a very full life,” her younger brother, Fin, said after her death, The Telegraph reported.

“She loved horse riding and she was really into her arts and crafts,” he said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Fin called Tia-Mae’s death “a real shock” and said she “put a smile on everybody’s faces” and “brightened every room she entered.”

“To lose her so unexpectedly has been incredibly difficult for all who loved her,” he said.