Mother of tragic young sportsman calls for more screening

12 young people die each week through cardiac difficulties. The campaign to increase screening gathers momentum. We are so glad to hear the fantastic news coming from London Chest Hospital about Fabrice progress. It is a time to reflect on those who didn’t make it and join the campaign to help set up a full system of screening. Don’t be fooled, it will never eradicate the issues touched in our post below, but we can reduce the chances and through education of the actions needed when confronted by such situations, will help save more lives.

Please take time to read the article below and go and visit the website Cardiac Risk in the Young www.c-r-y.org.co.uk.

Finally our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bouzid family featured in the post below.

Article by Joseph Tulip from the Shields Gazette (www.shieldsgazzette.com) taking in full.

THE mother of a tragic young footballer from South Tyneside has called for more heart screening in sport.

Dawn Bouzid spoke out after Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed during an FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday, suffering a cardiac arrest.

The 23-year-old was rushed to the London Chest Hospital, where he is continuing to receive intensive care.

Mrs Bouzid’s 21-year-old son, Jamal, from South Shields, collapsed and died on April 27 last year after watching a match involving his former team, Shields United.
An inquest into his death revealed Jamal suffered from sudden adult death syndrome.
As the first anniversary of her son’s death approaches, Mrs Bouzid has called for more screening to test sportsmen and women for heart conditions, both professionally and at local level.

The 44-year-old, of Horsley Hill, South Shields, said: “I don’t know if it’s because I am more aware of them, but these types of incidents seem to be happening more often.

“It’s always tragic, and it has been difficult for us, but I would support anything which would help to save lives.”

Professional footballers undergo mandatory tests for heart conditions at the age of 16, but after Muamba’s collapse, Premier League officials are now considering increasing them. The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry) says at least 12 young people in the UK die suddenly each week of cardiac abnormalities, sudden death syndrome or sudden cardiac death.

In 2005, the European Society of Cardiology and International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended cardiac screening for any young person taking part in competitive sport.

Mrs Bouzid add
ed: “It would be reassuring to see people of all ages screened in local sport as well as at the top level.

“I understand it would cost money, but if there was a way of making it happen, I would certainly welcome it.

“As awareness has been raised of cardiac-related death, 20,000 young people have approached Cry and requested screening.”

Hundreds of people joined together in memory of Jamal last May during a special charity football match involving his former teams. Shields United and Veterans United.