A bereaved mum is campaigning for young people to be screened for potential cardiovascular disorders following the death of her son from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.  Ruth Lowe, of Fulwood, says if her 21-year-old son Andrew Parr had been given an ECG, his heart problem, which went undetected until his death, may have been picked up sooner. 

Andrew, who was a vehicle electronic equipment installer for Base Systems on Fylde Road, Preston, collapsed outside Tokyo Joe’s nightclub in the city in April 2004 and died on Easter Monday, a few days before his 22^nd birthday.  He had complained of indigestion for the previous fortnight – and it later emerged he had unknowingly suffered two heart attacks. 

The former Harris Primary and Broughton High School pupil was due to marry his fiancé, Gemma Abinett, 22, from Ashton, Preston, at Fulwood Free Methodist Church in November 2004.It was the second tragedy to hit Mrs Lowe who lives with her husband David in Whittle Green, Woodplumpton, near Preston.  She was widowed when Andrew’s father died from a brain tumour when Andrew was just three.  Ruth said: “If I had been more aware of SADS I would have insisted that he was checked out and given an ECG." 

“Don’t ignore symptoms such as dizziness, indigestion, breathlessness or heart palpitations, especially when exercising.  Get checked out.  We do not normally associate these sorts of symptoms to a cardiac problem in the fit and young.  It did not occur to me.  I wish I’d been more aware." 

"We get an MOT done on our cars.  Why should we not be able to have our children cardiac tested?” 

Ruth is manning an information stall at Booths in Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston, until tomorrow as part of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) awareness week.  The CRY charity raises awareness of cardiac risk in the young and sudden death syndrome, offering support to those who have lost a young person this way.  It is campaigning to get ECGs offered to all teenagers aged 14, as many of the conditions that cause sudden death in the young are treatable if diagnosed. 

Sir Tom Finney was also visiting the stall to support the cause.  Ruth, a teacher, taught Sir Tom’s grandchildren Lee and Lauren, and Lee and Andrew were school friends. 

It is estimated 80% of non-traumatic sudden deaths that occur in people under 35 are caused by inherited or congenital structural or functional cardiovascular abnormalities.  At least four deaths a week in young people are due to cardiovascular disease.