Sudden adult death syndrome

Fabrice Muamba

In March 2012, whilst playing in an FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur, Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed. Although his heart stopped for 78 minutes, the 24-year-old regained consciousness and recovered enough to be discharged from hospital a month later.

Shauna Magunda and Fabrice Muamba : photo from the Daily Mail 

Lily Webster

Two months earlier 15-year-old Lily Webster collapsed during a school PE lesson. She did not regain consciousness and died in January 2012 of sudden adult death syndrome . At the inquest it was stated that about 500 people in England die each year from sudden adult death syndrome, an unpredictable attack in people whose heart is structurally normal.

Speaking to the BBC, a spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said "Lily was in a critical condition when medical staff arrived. Ambulance crews, the doctor and the critical care team from the air ambulance worked extensively to treat and stabilise the girl but following everyone's best efforts, she was pronounced dead at the scene."

East of England Ambulance Service

Lily's family and friends have already raised hundreds of pounds for the air ambulance service and British Heart Foundation, and now they are taking part in "Lily's London Stroll" as part of the ' Heart of London Bridges Walk 2012 ' raising money and awareness for the Charity Cardiac Risk in the Young ( CRY ) .

You can donate to Lily's page here.

CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk

Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die suddenly from undiagnosed heart conditions. CRY promotes heart screening, ECG Testing and medical research into Young Sudden Cardiac Death. The 6th annual CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk will take place on Sunday 15th July 2012. This year's walk will be led by Kathryn Harries, International Soprano and CRY Patron. In 2011, around 800 people took part in the Walk, raising over £54,000.

CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk

Details of the walk are taken from the http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/bridges_walk_2012.htm
It will start at Victoria Embankment Gardens and end at Hays Galleria, near London Bridge. The route crosses 7 Thames bridges and includes great views of at least 12 of London's famous landmarks, representing the 12 young sudden cardiac deaths that occur each week in the UK.

These landmarks include County Hall, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Somerset House, St Paul's Cathedral, Royal Festival Hall, the Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, Southwark Cathedral, the Tower of London, City Hall and HMS Belfast. The walk is 8km (just under 5 miles) and as a guide, the route should take about 2 hours at an average walking pace.

CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk

If you want to take part, registration starts at 9.15am at Victoria Embankment Gardens, followed by the walk, which will start at 10.30am. Fees to enter, which cover the costs of staging the event safely, are £10 in advance or £15 on the day for Adults (16 year olds and Under are free but must be accompanied by an adult). Drinks will be available at the start, along the way and at the end. Bridges Walk T-shirts will be provided to walkers in advance.

To make a donation towards the event please make cheques payable to CRY and send to CRY, Unit 7 Epson Down Metro Centre, Waterfield, Tadworth Surrey KT20 5LR or donate online at  CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk

CRY Heart of London Bridges Walk

 photos from c-r-y.org.uk/

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