TRAGIC teenager Richard Allen died suddenly from a rare heart condition – but the tragedy saved his brother’s life. Richard 16, collapsed at home from a massive heart attack.
But tests showed that an undetected defect was also present in brother Stephen, 19.
He was rushed to hospital to have a defribillator fitted inside his chest to check his heartbeat.
The device uses an electric current to restart the beat if it stops or becomes irregular.
Traumatic Dad-of-one Stephen, a Benefits Agency worker, said at his home in West Moor, North Tyneside: ‘It has been very hard to cope with as Richard was also my best friend.’
Their dad Denis, 51, said: ‘It has been a traumatic time – our one consolation is that his death has saved
Stephen’s life. ‘When Richard collapsed he wasn’t even feeling ill. there was absolutely no warning.’
Since the tragedy in September, engineer Denis and wife Mandy, 40, have raised £6,500 for support group Cardiac Risk in the Young.
That will pay for heart scans for 40 young people, but Denis said: ‘They should be available free on the NHS.’