Learning from death of young

Family of sudden death syndrome victim campaign in schools

Pictured centre, holding a cuddly toy kangaroo with his friend Oilver Kenton.

A couple who lost their son to a form of sudden death syndrome want to raise awareness of the tragic disorder.

Gill and Robert Wood were devastated when their son James died from SADS (Sudden Arrhythmai Death Syndrome) – similar to cot death in infants – in September 2002.

James, who was a fit and active boy, had just turned 15 when he collapsed and died at the family’s home in Great Amwell.

The popular and friendly youngster was a pupil at Haileybury  public school near Hoddesdon, and was a member of the 1^st Broxbourne Scouts.

This week, James’s mother Gill spoke out about the family’s loss and how a charity had greatly helped them to deal with their grief.

It is the vital work of this charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in Young People) which Gill and Robert are hoping to promote.

“James died suddenly at home and it took many months of further investigation to try to determine the cause of death, said Gill.

“He was a very fit, healthy boy with his whole life ahead of him.

The coroner came to the conclusion that James died of SADS, which is similar to cot death.”

Gill added: “The charity CRY has given our family immense support, both in the form of counselling and explaining what may have happened to James. “ We want to back the charity in the hope that we can stop this happening to another family”

On Tuesday, Gill and Robert organised for a CRY representative to visit youngsters at Broxbourne Primary School where James’s younger brother is a pupil.  The School held a special assembly, at which the children met cuddly mascot toys QT Kanga and CRY Teddy- which will be travelling the globe to raise money for CRY-as they were told about SADS.

Later in the day, James’s older brother Christopher,14 took the toys into Haileybury for another talk on the charity.

“Before James died, nobody could really tell us what was wrong with him” added Gill.

“At one point, doctors thought he had vertigo because he kept having dizzy spells.

“I’m not pointing the finger of blame at anyone-it was nobody’s fault.  But at the time, there was a lack of knowledge about SADS on all sides.  “If James had seen a cardiologist, his problems may have been spotted.