Vera Looker, of Widley, refuses to sit back and do nothing and is determined to highlight the dangers of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS).

She organised a sponsored swim to inform as many people as she can about unexpected deaths which are by definition non-traumatic and non-violent.

Mrs Looker was spurred in to action after her 21-year-old son Michael died without any warning.  She said: ‘One day he was painting the bungalow, the next day he was dead.  His death remained a mystery until a post mortem revealed he had a heart abnormality which resulted in Sudden Death Syndrome.’

Sudden cardiac arrest can occur within six hours of normal health.

Mrs Looker will be swimming for sponsorship to stop other families going through the heartache that she and husband Geoff have suffered.

The event will take place on Tuesday, April 8, at the Victoria Swimming Centre, Anglesea Road, Portsmouth – with Mrs Looker being cheered on by family and friends.

All funds raised will go to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, which highlights the importance of screening.

Research has shown that if young people at risk are identified in time, many can be saved.

On average every week four to eight apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions in the UK.

The charity buys electro cardiogram equipment and operators for screening young people, and provides a counselling service for the bereaved.

Mrs Looker said: ‘ Michael was a seemingly fit and healthy young man who suddenly lost his life through no apparent reason.  It was a terrible shock to us.  I am doing the sponsored swim, not only in memory of Michael, but also to promote the CRY campaign.’