Every week at least eight apparently fit and healthy young people die from an undetected heart condition. Health reporter Siobhan Ryan speaks to one victim lucky enough to have survived.
Joseph Tanner learned about his heart condition in dramatic fashion.
He had just come to the end of the Hastings half marathon in March this year when he suddenly collapsed with a heart attack.
Volunteers and medics battled to save him at the scene and he ended up staying at the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards for three weeks.
Medics eventually diagnosed Brugada syndrome, a condition that causes a disruption of the heart’s normal rhythm.
If untreated, the irregular heartbeats can cause fainting, seizures, breathing problems or sudden death.
Joseph, 26, of Palmeria Square, Hove, has an internal defibrillator fitted which can kick-start his heart if it suddenly stops.
The discovery of his illness has led to some major changes in Joseph’s life but he is determined to get himself back into shape.
He said: “There was absolutely no indication at all that I had any problems. I took part in the London Marathon, have been in a running club and taken part in other races. I’ve always considered myself fit and healthy.
“I remember queuing up at the start of the marathon but I remember absolutely nothing else. Apparently I finished it in an hour and 49 minutes but I cannot remember any of it.
“I was in intensive care for two days and then told I had had a cardiac arrest at the finish line. My heart had stopped for seven minutes and I then had anther attack in the ambulance.
“It’s scary to think that this could have happened any time on all those runs. I took everything in my stride, which seemed to surprise a few people. I looked at it that I was lucky to still be here so my attitude was ‘do what you have to do.’
After I was released from hospital I was told to take it easy but that day I was out walking along the beach.
“A week and a half later I was back at work, but I wasn’t allowed to do any lifting or climb ladders – among many other things – for about six weeks.
“Life is pretty much back to normal for me now and sometimes I even forget that I have the defibrillator.
“I was shocked when I heard my diagnosis as there has been no history of any problems in my family.
“I cannot scuba dive any more and I can’t become a community police officer either because of my condition.
“However I’ve been speaking to my doctors and there is a good chance that I might be able to take up running again at some time.
“I will listen to my doctors – I’m not going to put myself at risk. I haven’t run since that day but my running shoes are at the ready.”
Joseph, who works at the White Stuff clothes store in Brighton, is now determined to do what he can to raise awareness of the potential problems people can face.
He said: “My family have all been tested and they are clear but there could be a lot of other people walking around who don’t know they have a problem.
“The fact is, there are many similar types of heart disease which have no symptoms and go undetected.
“The only time people know there is a problem is when they collapse like I did or even die. You won’t get screened unless there is a specific request.”
The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) which is running an awareness week from this Friday, is campaigning to have screening centres set up around the country so people up to the age of 35 can be checked out.
Joseph is backing the campaign by holding a sponsored leg wax on October 18, and a sponsored Dolly Parton Tribute Night at the Latest Music Barr in Brighton, formerly Joogleberry, on October 21. Tickets costs £7.
To sponsor him, visit
http://www.justgiving.com/cry_awareness.
Talented hockey player Luke Meekings, 24, from Rustington, collapsed and died after becoming unwell while driving in Worthing in June.
Tests discovered the keen sportsman had an undetected heart condition and the cause of his death was sudden adult death syndrome.
The brother of TV sports presented Gabby Logan, Daniel collapsed and died while enjoying a kick about with his father, former Wales manager Terry Yorath in 1992.
Daniel was only 15 at the time and later discovered to have had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Sport can be a killer
Every week in the UK at least eight apparently ‘fit and healthy’ young people aged 35 and under die from undiagnosed heart conditions.
Sudden death syndrome is an umbrella term used for the many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people.
These conditions include thickening or abnormal structure of the heart muscle and irregularities in the electrical impulses, which can upset the natural rhythm of the heart.
Sports people stress their hearts the most. If they have an underlying cardiac abnormality they are more like to be at risk.
Sport itself does not lead to cardiac arrest but it can act as a trigger for a young person to die suddenly by exacerbating an undetected condition.
CRY provides a counselling service for families affected by young, sudden cardiac death and also offers support to young people diagnosed with a condition.
Other CRY initiatives include donating medical equipment to hospitals and GP surgeries, contributing to medical research and raising awareness of sudden death syndrome among medics, politicians and the general public. For more information, visit
