A college student has died in hospital following a heartattack in Melbourne, Australia, according to her friends and family.

Apostolic Vicar Stephen Gilder, a former Catholic priest, was found unconscious on Friday morning at the university’s dormitory.

The 34-year-old, who had attended Melbourne University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, had suffered a heart-attack earlier in the day.

“She was very close to dying, she had a very serious heart condition,” said her father, James Gilders.

“The last thing she wanted was to go to hospital and be rushed into surgery.”

I don’t know what the prognosis is, but she had surgery that morning and they said she’s very stable.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time.””

We are extremely saddened by this tragic loss,” the university said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time.”

Apostolese Bishop of Melbourne, Michael O’Donnell, said he has spoken with Goulders family and “we will be working with the police to understand the circumstances”.

“We would like to express our deepest condolences to the family of Ms Gild, the students who were with her and her friends,” he said in the statement.

“In this difficult time, we have decided to work with the family and police to support their grieving process.”

Gilder had been a student at the University of Melbourne since 2008 and graduated in 2018.

Her family and friends had previously told the ABC that Gildernes heart had been in “great shape” for at least a decade.

But she was admitted to hospital last year after suffering a “cardiac arrest” that caused her to stop breathing.