'We Want To Save Lives'

King family back new campaign to raise awareness of inherited heart conditions

- Caoimhe Hegarty

THE heart-broken family of a local, rising GAA star who died suddenly, are backing a new campaign to raise awareness of inherited heart conditions.

22 year-old Kevin King from Slaught manus collapsed during a game of indoor soccer with friends on Thursday, November 3, 2016.

The talented GAA player died shortly after in hospital.

After Kevin’s death his family learned he had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) an inherited heart condition that damages the muscle of the heart and can lead to sudden death.

Kevin’s mother and father Margaret and John and brother Dr Martin King have worked tirelessly since Kevin’s death to raise awareness of sudden deaths in young people.

New figures released by the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) show that a fifth of people diagnosed with a deadly inherited heart condition are only diagnosed after a sudden death in the family.

The figures have been released by the heart charity as part of their ‘In Your Genes’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of inherited heart conditions and highlight the urgent need for more research into these conditions, so people can be identified before a tragedy or life-threatening cardiac arrest occurs.