The parents of a 16-year-old boy who died after collapsing on the football pitch are urging youngsters to have heart screening to prevent another tragedy.
Super-fit football fanatic Daniel Young collapsed minutes after scoring a spectacular goal for Atherton Laburnum Rovers in September 2005.
Twelve young people die each week as a result of a heart condition.
In a bid to save other families going through the same heartache, the youngster’s parents Craig and Dionne – of Tyldesley Road, Atherton – raised more than £6,000 to support free screening sessions offered by the Cardiac Risk n the Young charity.
The charity says heart screening of young people, especially those taking part in sports on a regular basis, could help save lives by flagging up early warning signs.
On Saturday and Sunday the screening unit and specialist consultants offered free testing to 200 people aged 14 to 35 in the car park of Tesco in Atherton where Daniel used to work.
Mum Dionne, 45, who still works at the store, said: “We had a curry day and a football event at Pendleton College where Daniel went to raise the money.
“Being involved with CRY has helped us a lot. The work we do with them to raise money and awareness keeps me going.”
She said the family had been devastated to lose Daniel.
She said: “When something like this happens who do you blame”
My daughter Hannah who was five wouldn’t let us out of her sight when it happened. She just couldn’t understand why her brother had gone out to play football and never came back.” Dad Craig, 40, said: “Before this happened, if I saw a game going on I’d stop and watch, but afterwards I couldn’t cope with watching children in football kits.”
Daniel died as a result of an enlarged heart.
It is a condition which is often associated with the unexpected death of young athletes. Screening would have diagnosed the problem and could have saved his life. But like most people, his parents didn’t realise their teenage son could have a fatal heat condition with suffering any symptoms.
the charity’s visit to Atherton was also supported by MP for Leigh Andy Burnham.
He said: “I am thrilled that the CRY ‘test my heart’ tour came to the area. This is all down to the sheer determination of Dionne Young who is an inspirational campaigner on these issues.”
After testing in Atherton the mobile centre and its team of professionals and volunteers is heading to Leeds and Preston.
For more information log onto
http://www.c-r-y.org.uk
