A mother has spoken of the devastating loss of her son who had a sudden heart attack while paintballing. 

Darren Clark, who had a two-year-old daughter, was only 27 when he died during a game at Paintball Challenge Messingham. 

The family are holding a charity day at the venue on 28th January to raise money for the national charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).  

An autopsy at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London confirmed Darren had Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome, a heart condition which can lead to episodes of rapid heart rate. 

Doctors have confirmed this condition was the cause of his death, but an inquest will be held in the future. 

Darren's mother Debbie Clark, 49, from Burton-upon Stather, said it came as a great shock when she found out what had happened. 

Debbie said: "I was devastated.  He was a very young outgoing and driven young man who liked to live life to the fullest. 

"He left the house that morning for the paintballing and I told him to take a banana to give him energy. 

"He told me, 'Mum, I am going to be hiding behind trees, not climbing them.  That was the last time I spoke to him." 

Darren was lying face down behind a tree when his friends found him. 

They tried to revive him before the ambulance arrived but he had died. 

Darren had an ablation four years ago to treat his arrhythmia which is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. 

An ablation is a treatment that aims to control or correct an abnormal heart rhythm. 

He had suffered with palpitations since the age of 17, but had learnt to control them. 

Darren's sister Vicki, 25, a mother-of-two, has helped organise the charity paintballing day following September's tragedy. 

She said: "I couldn't believe what had happened when I was told about Darren. 

"I can just see my dad's face like it was yesterday and I couldn't stop screaming. 

"We wanted to do something to celebrate Darren's birthday on January 31st, so we put together this paintballing event." 

There will also be a pie and pea super and a raffle after the paintball event on January 28th at the Westlands Club in Burton-Upon-Stather. 

Prizes on offer include a paintball gun, two spa days, a meal for four and vouchers for popular retailers. 

Alison Cox, founder and chief executive of CRY, said: "I think it takes remarkable courage to apply yourself to helping someone else after such a tragedy. 

"There is often no explanation as to why these sudden cardiac deaths take place. 

"As a charity we very much depend on our families to raise money to help us. 

"The money raised by Debbie and Vicki will go towards supporting our screening programme. 

"This helps to save the lives of young people and also raise awareness."

To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DazzClark