When Justin Meek was 33, he had the world at his feet.  Fit, active and building a successful career in marketing, he was married with a two-year-old daughter he doted on.  All that promise ended one morning, when his wife Sarah woke up next to him.  He had died in the night, with no warning. 

An open verdict was recorded by the coroner and his family, from Abenhall, Mitcheldean, was left looking for answers. 

“It’s obviously devastating,” said his mum, Ann.  “When you lose your children it’s not like other bereavements.” 

“It’s something you have to learn to live with.  Life is never the same.” 

She and her husband Tony (left), along with Sarah and daughter Bryony, are determined that his death will not have been in vain.  Charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which has been a huge help to them, launches a campaign today to raise awareness and bring pressure for more cardiac screening for young people which can detect Sudden Death Syndrome. 

“If he had been alive, they might have been able to find out if there had been something wrong,” said Mrs Meek. 

“But they could not find anything out from a dead heart.” 

Their daughter Bryony was screened after Justin’s death and found to be in the clear. 

Mrs Meek wants others to have the benefit of a test which might have saved her son.  On average, eight youngsters die every week of Sudden Death Syndrome.  Justin died at his new home in Bishampton, Worcestershire, on May 20, 2001. 

“He was looking forward to seeing Bryony grow up,” said Mrs Meek. 

“He loved rugby at school and followed Gloucester’s progress, and was a keen walker.  He had even taken part in marathons." 

“He went to bed one night and his wife woke up to find him dead beside her.” 

Justin’s face in one of eight featured on a poignant postcard of those who died before they were 35.  None had apparent problems with their health.  Yet is widely acknowledged that many of the hundreds of sudden deaths which occur every year in the UK could be prevented if simple cardiac screening was made more accessible. 

The postcard also includes Alexander Edwards, who died suddenly, aged 12, while playing a cricket match for his school, Cheltenham Junior College. 

Alison Cox, founder and chief executive of CRY said: “By showing just some of the faces behind the stories we read and hear about all too often, we can help people begin to understand the heartbreak caused by this cruel killer and highlight the fact that it can happen to anyone, at any time – usually without warning. 

“Yet these eight faces – representing the eight lives lost in a single week in the UK – show just a snapshot of the actual problem. 

“We need to keep up the pressure and engage support from as many MPs as possible to make sure we can prevent other families from experiencing such tragic losses.” 

This month, thousands of postcards will be distributed by CRY supporters to people in the West of England, urging them to send it back to their MP. 

It is hoped the postcards will encourage MPs to add their support to the campaign and join the charity’s All Party Parliamentary Group. 

A new card will be launched every month, portraying victims from 12 different regions across the UK.  CRY hopes the postcards will maintain the momentum set earlier this year when the Department of Health agreed to add a new chapter to the National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease, dedicated to sudden death among young people. 

FACTFILE

• Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is an umbrella term used for the many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people. 

• Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) provides medical information on the most common causes of unexpected sudden cardiac death sometimes referred to as SADS in the young (Under 35.)   

• In the UK unexplained sudden death is frequently recorded as due to death from natural causes.

• Until the law is changed and coroners have to refer hearts on to specialists CRY says the true figures will not be known.