Heart screening event held in memory of young Birmingham man

26-year-old Anthony Lane died in 2022 from an undiagnosed heart defect.

Anthony Lane
Author: Kellie MaddoxPublished 21st Jul 2024

The father of a man from Birmingham, who died following an undiagnosed heart condition, has said greater awareness is needed of the risk among young people.

26-year-old Anthony Lane died suddenly in October 2022. He had been exercising on his turbo trainer bike at home, when he collapsed.

His partner returned home to find him unresponsive on the floor. It is believed that Anthony had an undiagnosed heart condition, but had no symptoms.

His family has helped organise a screening event happening today (21st July), in Anthony's memory, to help identify undiagnosed heart conditions in other young people.

Paul Lane, Anthony's father, said: "One in 300 people that are tested at these screening sessions, is found to have a heart defect like Anthony, my son, so as such, we are hopefully saving lives."

The event, run by CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), follows funding from the Wylde Green Rotary Club, and support by Anthony's former bosses at Mercedes F1.

A screening carried out by CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young)

Hosted by Sutton Coldfield Town FC, it will be the first of many for the area, thanks to Rotary grants and fundraising campaigns headed up by Paul.

CRY works to prevent young sudden cardiac deaths through awareness, screening and research and supporting affected families, like Anthony's.

CRY uses a simple, effective and non-invasive way of diagnosing most cardiac abnormalities. It is a quick, painless and affordable procedure called an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is reviewed by a specially trained medic.

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