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.'
