Family rebuilding their lives after death of football-mad son

The mother of a 20-year-old man who died from an undetected heart condition has spoken of her determination to help raise people’s awareness of the issue. 

Julie Ashcroft, of Gloucester Avenue, Colchester, said her family was slowly rebuilding their lives following the death of football-mad Carl, who died in November. 

Carl, who was a roof tiler, had been working at the Persimmon Homes site, in Winstree Road, Stanway, when he was taken ill.  He was pronounced dead at hospital. 

It was later discovered the former Alderman Blaxill pupil suffered from congenital hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy – something neither Carl nor his family were aware of. 

Mrs Ashcroft said, since her son’s death she had been helped by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which was founded in May 1995. 

The charity aims to raise awareness of sudden cardiac death (SCD), an umbrella term used for the many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people under 35. 

It wants to see more electrocardiogram tests carried out on young people, so such heart conditions can be detected and treated. 

To help raise awareness of the issue Mrs Ashcroft manned an information stall in Colchester town centre on behalf of the charity. 

She said: “When we found out Carl had this heart condition we were all so shocked as we had no idea. 

“Cardiac Risk in the Young were helpful to me and to be able to talk to people who had been through the same as us with members of their own family made a real difference. 

“I support the charity’s aim of getting more young people tested for heart conditions and I wanted to do my bit to help.” 

Mrs Ashcroft revealed Carl’s five siblings, Wesley, Danielle, Donna, Kirsty and Chelsea, along with baby niece Kairen had been tested and given the all clear by doctors, who had been concerned as in many cases such heart conditions are hereditary.