A 17-YEAR-OLD girl has died in hospital after weeks bravely battling a mystery illness.

Last night, Cygaya Seaton’s devastated family paid tribute to the “one-of-a-kind” girl, who was the “heartbeat” of her friends with her infectious laugh and warm smile.

The teenager died in the intensive care unit of Royal Bolton Hospital surrounded by her family after six weeks fighting a lung condition, the cause of which has left doctors baffled.

Her mother, Lola, speaking from the family home in Embla Walk, Burnden, surrounded by hundreds of condolence cards and flowers and supported by her sisters, described the desperate battle to save her daughter.

She said: “She went to the doctors at least three times in September because she was complaining of a sore back, aching joints and just feeling really unwell.

“She was given antibiotics but 10 days later she was still not feeling well. She couldn’t walk properly and couldn’t even sit down in the same place for more than 15 minutes.

“She wasn’t even interested in Facebook, which she was always on, television or anything. Her legs were hurting, her arms were hurting. I just knew something wasn’t right.”

For more on this story, read Tuesday's paper.