Brother of tragic Sheffield-trained boxer Scott Westgarth launches law change campaign

Scott Westgarth pictured with his dad John.

Adam Westgarth has set up a petition calling for it to be a legal requirement that all boxing venues have handheld scanners available following the death of his brother in February.

Scott, 31, collapsed in the changing room after beating Dec Spelman in an English title eliminator at The Dome in Doncaster and was taken to hospital where he died.

Adam, 35, of Stokesley, said: "From what I have read about them, the scanners do a 15-minute scan on the boxers' head.

"They send infrared beams into the head and they can detect a bleed - it shows up different on the scan.

"I am not trying to say having a scanner would have changed the outcome for Scott but if there is something we can do to detect something similar then that has to be a good thing."

Scott, who trained at Glyn Rhodes' Sheffield Boxing Centre, worked as a chef at Sheffield Royal Victoria Holiday Inn and had just bought a house with his partner Natalie.

He was also a fully qualified ski instructor and his points decision victory meant he was due to challenge for the English light-heavyweight title.

Adam added: "I launched the campaign online yesterday and it's got more than 300 signatures already. I think it will just snowball and get more and more support.

"The campaign gives us something to focus on. I am trying to do what I can for Scott's legacy and trying to follow the right path and help other people just as he would.

"It's just something else to focus on rather than feeling sorry for ourselves."

Brave Scott, of Penistone but originally from the North East, saved seven lives through organ donations following his death.

Speaking in February, Scott's dad John described his son as 'unique' and 'perfect'.

He said: "Scott was unique. He was perfect, a little cheeky thing. He was never no bother, I never had to worry about him.

"He could look after himself and I knew he would always be safe. I've got four boys and they are all different in different ways but Scott was something special. He was different in that whatever he did he was good at or had massive potential to good at if he put his mind to it. He had the potential to be good at whatever it was."

For more information or to sign the petition visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/216069.