One of many young people whose lives are cut short by undetected genetic heart condition

A memorial fund for a young Haslemere teenager, whose life was tragically cut short by an undetected heart condition, is the focus of a hard-hitting campaign which was launched last week. 

The Sebastian English Memorial Fund has been set up within an established charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which has unveiled a poster-sized version of a thought-provoking new postcard, featuring the photos of eight young people under the aged of 35 who have lost their lives to the condition known as sudden cardiac death in the young. 

Sebastian, from Kingsley Green, who played for Haslemere Community Rugby Club and his school, Lord Wandsworth College in Long Sutton, collapsed and died at a local rugby match as he retrieved a ball that had rolled out of play.  He died on Sunday, February 15, 2004, almost a year to the day of the launch of the new campaign. 

The south east has been has been selected as the latest venue in the charity’s 12-month lobbying tour, highlighting the tragic condition which causes hundreds of sudden deaths every year in the UK and which could be prevented if simple cardiac screening was made more accessible. 

Sebastian’s step-father, Rupert Hunter, told The Herald that Sebastian “was like any other 15-year-old you may know.

“He was bright, witty, sporty, smiley and so very happy,” said his dad. 

Just over 10 years earlier, Sebastian’s father, Howard English, died aged 32, in almost identical circumstances at Esher Rugby Football Club.  His death was a tragic one-off rather than a hereditary heart condition. 

It was later realised that Sebastian could have been saved after tests revealed that he had suffered from a genetic heart condition that can lead to sudden death. 

Concerned that his siblings could also carry the gene, which can lead to a condition known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), Mr Hunter told The Herald that tests last month had shown that they had not inherited the affected gene. 

Thanks to the remarkable work of Dr Perry Elliott and his team at The Heart Hospital in London, Mr Hunter said that Sebastian’s siblings could now look forward to leading normal lives. 

He said that the fund would be supporting Dr Elliott’s work as well as CRY. 

The national charity is now distributing thousands of postcards through its CRY supporters to people in the south east, urging them to send it back to their local MP. 

It is hoped that 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 examining the deaths among young people. 

Lending weight to the campaign is the patron of CRY, British veteran tennis star Mark Cox, and Jeremy Bates. 

The campaign is also backed by other famous faces from the world of sport, among them its president, Ian Botham, who is also featured on the card. 

Many of the young people affected by sudden cardiac death are often struck while taking part in competitive sport or physical activity. 

Anyone who wishes to support CRY – Sebastian English Memorial Fund can do so at Cardiac Risk in the Young, Unit 7, Epsom Downs Metro Centre, Water field, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5LR. 

Postcards are also available from The Haslemere Herald office at 70c High Street, Haslemere. 

Find out more about ARVC