12 people are screened for sudden death condition

Twelve members of a family have undergone medical tests after a mother and son both died unexpectedly 20 years apart. 

Test results have come back clear for 12 relatives of Margaret Banks, whose daughter and grandson died suddenly, although two further members of her family are still going through the screening process to see if they are susceptible. 

Mrs Banks wants to raise awareness of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) after a pathologist yesterday said her grandson Ryan Hulme had fallen victim to the condition. 

Mr Hulme, aged 19, died suddenly at his home in Oldfield Street, Fenton, as he answered his mobile phone. 

North Staffordshire coroner Ian Smith ruled that he died of natural causes after pathologist Dr Gillian Douce said she believed the cause of Mr Hulme’s death in April was SADS, a condition which kills up to eight people a week in the UK. 

In October 1984, his mother Alison Copeland died in similar circumstances. 

Her death came five weeks after she gave birth to Mr Hulme and he grew up to know of her only as “mummy Alison.” 

Mrs Banks believes her daughter’s death, recorded as caused by bronchitis at her inquest, was also a case of SADS, although the condition was not recognised at the time by medical experts. 

The 59-year-old of Ashworth Street, Fenton, said her grandmother had also died in similar circumstances but has been told that she is unlikely to suffer from the condition. 

She wants to raise awareness of the hereditary disorder, warning people to look out for symptoms including dizziness and fainting. 

Mrs Banks said: “People keep saying it is rare but it is not.

“We need the medical people to be made more aware of the syndrome.” 

Mrs Banks paid tribute to support group Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) for the help the organisation had given her. 

Yesterday the inquest heard how Mr Hulme had been suffering from dizzy spells, but a heart disorder, known as Long QT Syndrome, had gone undiagnosed. 

The syndrome is an infrequent, hereditary disorder of the heart’s electrical rhythm that can occur in otherwise healthy people. 

The inquest heard how on April 14 last year Michelin worker Mr Hulme got up to answer his mobile phone – moments later he collapsed and died. 

Mr Smith said: “The verdict I shall return is that he died due to natural causes.  Although no-one can say 100 per cent sure that he died from this form of Long QT Syndrome, I think we are 99.9 per cent there.” 

Find out more about Long QT syndrome