THE family of an acutely-disabled Oxford teenager have paid tribute to their “radiant, brave and beautiful” daughter.

Beatrice Carr, 16, known as ‘Bea’, died in her sleep at Helen House hospice on Tuesday, December 11, with her family at her bedside.

Her parents Joanna Swindells-Carr and Paul Carr told the Oxford Mail their “miracle” teenager’s valiant struggles were over.

Bea was a popular able- bodied child until she was 10, when she was starved of oxygen following an asthma attack and left with severe brain injuries.

Not expected to survive, she was left blind, without speech, spastic quadriplegic, and developed scoliosis.

She required three years of intensive rehabilitation, therapy and surgery.

Then in September 2009 she underwent planned scoliosis correction surgery at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital but her spinal cord was severed, paralysing her from the chest down.

The former Beckley Primary School girl defied medical predictions when her breathing tube was removed.

Despite being given just minutes to live she confounded doctors.

Again, not expected to survive, she went to Helen House, the East Oxford children’s hospice and respite care centre, for end-of-life care.

However, again she astonished medics by regaining surprisingly good health.

Her parents, from Marston, said: “She was truly inspirational, and continued to astonish and inspire us, and others around her, daily. Her radiant life was mercilessly taken from us long before it was due. It is our greatest pleasure and inordinate privilege to be her parents.

“Despite her disabilities, Bea continued to lead as full a life as possible. She attended school, swimming, youth groups, Rangers and helped fundraise for local charities.

“Bea had retained her intellect. We believed she had Locked-In Syndrome, yet she developed an extremely clever range of communication signals.

“However, it is Bea’s indomitable spirit, perseverance, patience, courage and unfailing good humour in the face of these unspeakable adversities, that has been wondrous – and humbling.

“She had a tremendous empathy and great sensitivity, and great compassion for human character.”

In 2011 Bea won the Oxfordshire Association Youth award for Individual Bravery – the highest achievement – where her friends hailed her strength.

Beckley Primary School installed a bench in her honour.

Her funeral is today at 2.15 pm at St Barnabas Church, Horton-cum-Studley, near Oxford, with refreshments afterwards at the Studley Wood Gold Club.

All are welcome to attend, and are invited to wear purple, as this was Bea’s favourite colour.

Donations are welcome to Helen & Douglas House, Rosy – which provides respite nursing care for children in Oxfordshire – and the Rainbow Trust, a national charity which provides support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.