Cardiac centre hopes in memory of tragic son

DAD HOPING TO GET LAND TO BUILD WELLNESS FACILITY

- By DAVID HUMPHREYS

Mark King with a photo of son Oliver

A CAMPAIGNING Liverpool dad has revealed more details about his plans for the country's first cardiac testing and prevention centre, which he hopes will be in the home city of his late son.

Oliver King was just 12 when he died in 2011 after suffering a cardiac arrest during a swimming lesson at King David High School in Wavertree.

Oliver died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). In his memory, dad Mark, 63, set up the Oliver King Foundation a year later and has helped to deliver more than 7,000 defibrillators across the country.

He estimates more than 80 lives have been saved due to the work of the foundation in his son's name. Mark was honoured with an OBE for his services last month and revealed his desire to create the UK's first centre to hold specialist cardiac testing facilities.

Speaking to the ECHO, Mark has now urged Liverpool Council to help the foundation make their dreams a reality and get to work on a building for the proposed centre.

Mark said: "We've got plans for a wellness centre. I hate this word rehab, so it's going to be called the wellness centre.