A mother has spoken out about her campaign to prevent the rare heart condition that caused the tragic death of her teenage son.

Nearly 10 years after the death of 14-year-old Jeremy, his mum Jenny Cole of Victoria Drive is fighting to prevent sudden deaths from cardiomyopathy – the silent killer causes the shocking death of a young person without warning or symptoms.

Research shows routine heart scanning can save lives because the disease can be diagnosed and treated early.

The Cole family has launched a massive fundraising appeal and they have now been able to buy the town three specialis electrocardiogram scanners.

Two are in daily use at A&E at the DGH and in a local doctor’s surgery.

Last week a third scanner was donated to the hospital.

By raising public awareness and donating scanners for the town, Mrs Cole hopes she can save other families similar heartbreak.

She said, “The death of my son has been just terrible for the whole family and has had a profound effect on all his contemporaries.

“There is always some missing from our lives.  We live alongside the pain – and it never goes away.  If our fundraising can prevent just one death then it will all be worthwhile.’

Mrs Cole vividly remembers the last time she saw her son in October 1995.

She said, ‘My eldest daughter had got a place at Oxford University and I was driving her there to start her first term.  It started as one of the happiest days of my life and turned into the worst.

‘Jeremy stood at the end of the drive, told his sister he would see her again at half term and he waved us goodbye.  When I returned in the evening I discovered he had collapsed and died half an hour before.

‘His death came out of the blue.  He was a very sporty and active person – we had no idea there was a problem apart from a sudden fainting spell three months before.’

Mrs Cole believes her son would be alive today if doctors had been aware of the condition and given him a routine heart scan when he was taken to hospital after fainting.

She said, ‘Sadly my son’s condition wasn’t recognised because they thought fainting was just a normal part of growing up.  Today, I am still hearing cases of people dying suddenly in this way – often they are very healthy and athletic people.

‘But young people do not pass out for no reason – it could just be down to dieting or blood sugar problems but it could also be something more serious.’

In tribute to her ‘inspirational’ son, his mum said: ‘He is remembered for always having a smile on his face, laughing and playing the fool but in the nicest possible manner.  He was very active, quick witted and an extrovert.  We reckon he packed three score years into space of 14.'