We could avoid heart tragedies

An MP is campaigning for youngsters to be screened for undetected heart condition after the death of an 11-year-old boy. 

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

Although a post mortem report has yet to be compiled, Leslie’s family believed an undetected heart condition may be to blame. 

They asked for donations to be made to the British Heart Foundation and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), rather than flowers be sent to his funeral.  Local Labour MP Kevan Jones has now renewed his calls to improve cardiac screening for the young and treatment for those with such conditions. 

He first raised screening for youngsters with Health Minister Melanie Johnson following the death of Levon Morland, 22, from West Rainton, near Durham, who started to suffer from shortness of breath when he was 12 and was later diagnosed with the extremely rare Wolfe Parkinson White Disease which gave him an occasional heart flutter.  Levon died in his sleep in January 2002. 

Leslie had been playing football at school on the morning of Thursday, May 13.  He went into class but about an hour-and-a-half later he complained of being short of breath and feeling dizzy. 

His grieving mum Amanda Law, 30, of Spen Street, Stanley, said after his death: “He never had any ill health.  He was a normal, beautiful boy. 

“No-one has been able to give us any ideal of what it was at the moment, but his heart has gone for further investigation mainly because he has a brother and sister, Jack, who’s seven, and Perri who is six.” 

Today Mr Jones said: “The real tragedy is that it is an avoidable situation, there are treatments if you detect it early. 

“Leslie Elkington will be one of 400 kids this year to die of these problems.  Unfortunately some of these deaths are put down to other things.”