Heart check saved my Matthew's life

A mum whose son suffers from a rare heart condition is backing calls for youngsters to be screened following the death of an 11-year-old boy. 

Leslie Elkington collapsed and died at Shield Row Primary School in Stanley, County Durham, last month after suddenly feeling dizzy during a SATS exam. 

Although a post mortem report has yet to be compiled, his family believe an undetected heart condition may be to blame. 

North Durham MP Kevan Jones led calls to improve cardiac screening for the young and treatment for those with such conditions. 

And now Fiona Sowden, 32, has thrown her support behind the campaign after telling how her son, Matthew, almost died shortly after birth because he suffers from the rare Wolfe-Parkinson-White condition. 

The mother-of-four, from Chirton, North Shields, said: “He was only a few days old but I just had a feeling something was wrong.  He was pale and crying a lot, as well as not feeding properly. 

“I called the emergency doctor who couldn’t work out what was wrong, but she suggested I take him to North Tyneside General Hospital. 

“They did some checks and found his heart was racing at 300 beats a minute so they had to dip his head into a bucket of ice to give him a shock and bring it back down to a normal level.” 

Matthew, now nine, lives a relatively normal life. 

Fiona said: “I could have lost him because of this condition.  Not many people know what it is, though, and I want to raise awareness.” 

“I want to back Kevan Jones’ campaign for heart screening for all youngsters because it will save lives.” 

The MP first raised the issue of screening for children with Health Minister Melanie Johnson following the death of Levon Morland, 22 from West Rainton.