A mother racing to see her unconscious son at hospital has told how she ended up following the ambulance he was in. 

Tracey Sibley was rushing to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, Portsmouth, after hearing son Khalid, 10, had stopped breathing at a banger race.  He had collapsed while watching the cars with friends at Horndean on September 2 last year, dying less than an hour later despite frantic efforts from paramedics and doctors. 

Miss Sibley told an inquest into Khalid’s death how she was ‘thrown’ into a car by neighbours outside her home and rushed to the hospital after someone at the track told her what had happened. 

The mum from Fulmer Walk in Waterlooville said: "I didn’t know what was happening and was in shock. 

"We met an ambulance in Cosham and followed it through to the hospital. 

"I just knew he was inside. 

"When we got there I saw them bring him out and it was just a mad rush – I hardly remember anything." 

A team of doctors and nurses were waiting and spent 35 minutes trying to resuscitate Khalid.  Paramedics had earlier given him six electric shocks and opened his airway in a bid to get him breathing. 

Portsmouth Coroner’s Court heard that Meadowlands School pupil Khalid, who had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) three years ago, died of sudden, unexplained cardiac death.  The court was told it had been feared he had some sort of allergic reaction to peanuts after it was revealed he had eaten a Snickers bar minutes before collapsing. 

Consultant pathologist Jennifer Dhundee said he appeared to be a healthy boy. 

"My opinion is that his heart had a sudden abnormal rhythm," she said. 

"I suspect there was nothing that could have alerted you to this – it is very rare in children. 

Dr Dhundee advised members of Khalid’s family to get themselves checked out by heart specialists. 

Coroner David Horsley recorded a verdict of death from natural causes. 

He said: "everything that could have been done for him was done.  Khalid has died an entirely natural death." 

After the inquest Khalid’s grandmother Yvonne Greenwood, 59, also of Fulmer Walk, said the family would never get over the tragedy. 

She said: "He was a lovely, happy boy and we are devastated." 

Eight lives are lost per week

In the UK there are an estimated eight deaths per week from sudden unexplained cardiac death in people aged 35 and under.  This does not include the instances of cot deaths.

Founder and chief executive of the research charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young - Alison Cox said: "It is terrifying as it is completely out of the ordinary."

Cardiac abnormalities can be diagnosed with an ECG or electrocardiogram test.  Results should be read by a cardiologist.

Mrs Cox said there was a 50 percent chance relatives of sudden cardiac arrests could be affected, and advised them to be checked out by expert cardiologists.