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Vow after tragedy of
son, 16
The unexpected death of
her teenage son prompted a grieving mum to help others at risk of a
similar fate.
James Robertson –
described by his parents as “the perfect son” – was found dead in
bed on March 5. Mum Carole Pearson and stepdad Allan Ainsley –
convinced he was a victim of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome – described how
the Guisborough 16-year-old was in good health and spirits when he went to
bed the previous night.
He had been due to go to
Prior Pursglove College that morning when he was studying art. But
when his college mate called at the family home in Pine Road, Mr Ainsley
went up to James’ room to find him slumped over the bed.
 Paramedics
were called, but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene. At
an inquest yesterday, Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of
death by natural causes. He told the inquest in Middlesbrough:
“Extensive investigations and inquiries were carried out, but in spite
of all the tests carried out, no cause of death can be ascertained.”
Since the tragic death,
Mrs Pearson has been investigating the condition known as Sudden Adult
Death (SAD) Syndrome. She
believes her son suffered from a genetic strain of the condition known as
Long QT Syndrome. SAD is not detectable in post-mortem examinations,
but can be diagnosed during life by screening.
Mrs Pearson is now
supporting a campaign to help other youngsters at risk and believes there
should be an automatic right to tests for those at high risk and a
structure for screening.
She told the Gazette:
“When a kid goes to bed one night you don’t expect to find him dead
the next day. But the time
for feeling sorry for myself is over, I am now determined to do something
about this. The sooner they
get some sort of screening in place for this, the better, because it’s
happening too often.”
Mrs Pearson, 52, has
written to Tony Blair and is working with organisations such as Cardiac
Risk in the Young (CRY) to bring in changes.
“James was the best son
a mother could wish for,” she said.
“He didn’t touch drugs, got nine GCSEs at school and was
studying art.
“I don’t want anyone
else to have to go through what we did because it was absolutely
horrific.”
There have been several
cases of suspected SAD Syndrome on Teesside. Margo Wright, from
Thorntree, believes her daughter, Mandi Blake, 32, died of the condition
in November 2001, when she was found dead at her home. And on March
3, 2003, 34-year-old fitness fanatic Jayne Bell collapsed at her Stockton
home and never regained consciousness.
Stockton South MP Dari
Taylor took the campaign to help young people at risk to Parliament in
March. She first became aware of the dangers after the sudden deaths
to two young Teesside men, Ian Bowen, 19, and Levon Morland, 22 and
persuaded the Government to set up an expert group to look at the problem.
The group is drawing up a
chapter in the National Service Framework, which lays out models of care
for all health providers.
“This medical model
will not only help in the diagnosis of a young person with a heart
condition; it will also set out guidelines for treatment, including the
invitation for relatives to also be screened,” she said.
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