Skye McCole Bartusiak death: Mother reveals The Patriot actress suffered seizures a week before she died

'We think she had a seizure and choked and nobody was there,' Helen Bartusiak told CNN

Skye McCole Bartusiak, the 21-year-old actress who starred opposite Heath Ledger and Mel Gibson in The Patriot, died weeks after suffering from seizures.

Speaking to the Alternative Press earlier this week, her mother, Helen Bartusiak, said that her daughter had been healthy and did not experiment with drink or drugs.

However, she has since revealed to CNN that her daughter had suffered from epileptic seizures since she was an infant.

Her seizures had apparently all but disappeared for a number of years, but had returned the week before she died.

“We think she had a seizure and choked and nobody was there,” Helen Bartusiak said.

“[The paramedics] were working on her for 45 minutes and could not get a heartbeat. I've done CPR on that kid more than one time and it just didn't work this time.”

Skye McCole Bartusiak was found dead in her bed by her boyfriend on Saturday (19 July). She had been living in a garage converted into an apartment on her parent’s property.

Her cause of death is not yet known by the family.

Bartusiak made her acting debut in the television miniseries Storm of the Century in 1999 and also had a role in 24 between 2002 and 2003.

She made her film debut in the The Cider House Rules in 1999 and starred opposite Michael Douglas in Don't Say a Word in 2001. Her most recent move was Sick Boy in 2012.

Bartusiak was best known for her role in Gibson's Revolutionary War epic The Patriot, where she played the daughter of militia leader Benjamin Martin.

The Patriot cast also included Heath Ledger, who died after an accidental overdose of painkillers and sedatives in 2008.