TEXAS - SPITERI MOURNS HEART CONDITION TEENAGER

TEXAS singer SHARLEEN SPITERI has spoken of her grief at hearing a teenage friend with a rare heart problem has died of the condition. SARAH AMATO passed away yesterday (12JAN07) aged 19 after a 10-year battle with her illness. She was hailed an inspiration when Spiteri and actor EWAN MCGREGOR met her while fundraising for a children's hospice in Scotland in 2003. Spiteri says, "When I first met her, I was humbled by both her immense joy and lust for life. "She lived this too-short life to the full, experiencing as much as she possibly could and delighting in it all." MCGregor has also sent his condolences to Amato's family.