Tragic Emma' legacy will save lives

A WOMAN who died suddenly after a cardiac arrest at the age of just 31 could now save countless lives after raising the money to install a defibrillator at a pub in the city centre.

- SOPHIE HALLE-RICHARDS

Emma Horrell was tragically found by her fiance Bob at their home in Whitefield earlier this year after suffering the fatal episode while working from home.

The mental health doctor had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2017 after her mum died from a similar heart problem several years ago.

That didn't stop her from training with her running group - Manchester Road Runners, who meet at The Wharf in Castlefield for a pint after each run. A big advocate for the heart charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), she decided to start raising funds for a defibrillator outside the pub.

Emma and running friend, Laura Burke, 31, got to work with their fundraising, but shortly after they started, the coronavirus pandemic struck.

They had just started meeting up again and organising more charity events in January when Emma died.