Premature ageing disease sufferer Hayley Okines dies aged 17

Tributes have poured in for Hayley Okines, who suffered from one of the world’s rarest diseases

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by Fiona Day |
Published on

Hayley Okines became known to the British public through her battle with Progeria, a condition that made her age prematurely.

Tragically, Hayley has passed away at the age of 17-years-old.

The teen’s body was reportedly accelerated to the age of 104.

Hayley’s mother announced her death on Facebook, writing: "My baby girl has gone somewhere better. She took her last breath in my arms at 9.39pm x.”

It has been reported that she was suffering from pneumonia.

Hayley focused on raising awareness of her disease

Prior to her death, Hayley made a bucket list of everything she hoped to do before her short life ended.

Among her wishes were ‘getting a munchkin cat’ and meeting boy band 5 Seconds of Summer to ‘tell them they’re idiots and hug them forever’.

Hayley was the subject of several TV documentaries about her illness and even wrote an autobiography at the age of 14 entitled ‘Old Before My Time’.

Our thoughts are with Hayley’s family at this sad and difficult time.

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