The tragedy of the 'invisible killer' of the young

The tragedy of the 'invisible killer' of the young Adam Ankers, 17, and Matthew Dunning, 20, both died after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest Seventeen-year-old Adam Ankers and 20-year-old Matthew Dunning were both keen footballers, fit, healthy and in the prime of their lives. They did not know each other but they have one thing in common - they are among 600 young people under 35 who die from sudden cardiac arrest every year in the UK due to undiagnosed heart conditions. That is about two peo

Their bereaved parents, who are from Buckinghamshire and Hampshire, are supporting the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) with its campaign for more funding for research and for the introduction of a national cardiac screening programme for all over-14s. In Adam's case, his parents say there were a number of missed chances that could have saved his life. He had played for Risborough Rangers in Buckinghamshire from a young age before joining Wycombe Wanderers under-19s foundation team whilst studying a BTEC diploma in sport at Henley College. Matt Bloomfield, who was Wycombe Wanderers' manager when Adam died, previously said he was "deeply shocked" by what happened On 31 January 2024, Adam collapsed during the second half of a match complaining of chest pains. "When they [paramedics] got to Adam's side he was cold, blue but the defibrillator was open out of the box next to him but not connected and had they connected it, it would have delivered a shock and told them to carry on CPR, so the device that could have saved him was there but it wasn't used," says Adam's dad, Alastair. Adam died in hospital on 4 February that year after it was found he had suffered unsurvivable brain damage. His inquest earlier this year heard that neither the coaches nor the 999 call handler recognised his irregular, shallow breathing was a sign of cardiac arrest. It appears there had been confusion over whether the defibrillator could be used safely on a teenager, which it could. The coroner ruled a failure to spot Adam was suffering from cardiac arrest "more than minimally" contributed to his death. "He was failed by the system... and none of the experts in the inquest are convinced that this won't happen again...the NHS has known for the last 10 years that the call handling system only picks up 75% of cardiac arrests that are phoned in," he says. The Football Association (FA) had argued at the inquest that making training obligatory could exclude children from refereeing but it says it was reviewing the coroner's findings and recommendations.

Key points

• Their bereaved parents, who are from Buckinghamshire and Hampshire, are supporting the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) with its campaign for more funding for research and for the introducti…
• In Adam's case, his parents say there were a number of missed chances that could have saved his life.
• He had played for Risborough Rangers in Buckinghamshire from a young age before joining Wycombe Wanderers under-19s foundation team whilst studying a BTEC diploma in sport at Henley College.
• Matt Bloomfield, who was Wycombe Wanderers' manager when Adam died, previously said he was "deeply shocked" by what happened On 31 January 2024, Adam collapsed during the second half of a match com…
• "When they [paramedics] got to Adam's side he was cold, blue but the defibrillator was open out of the box next to him but not connected and had they connected it, it would have delivered a shock a…