Grieving parents give second heart monitor to hospital

Jean and Ian Johnson lost their 21-year-old son Craig nearly five years ago when he collapsed and died on his way to Sheffield Hallam University.

Craig was diagnosed as a victim of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome which can strike without warning and has killed numerous young people.

Since their son’s death Jean and Ian, of Woodlaithe, Bramley, Rotherham, have campaigned to raise awareness of SADS and have raised funds for medical equipment.

In 2005 they presented two heart monitors to Sheffield Hallam University to detect heart problems among students.

Earlier this year Jean and Ian, along with other supporters, climbed Mam Tor in the Peak District and raised over 400.

The cash was added to funds raised previously and used to buy a 1,750 24-hour heart monitor for the cardiology department at Rotherham District General. The couple donated a similar heart monitor to the hospital two years ago.

Jean and Ian, together with Rotherham mum Julie Carder, whose teenage son Ryan Bothamley also died from SADS, have also provided two monitors for use at the Morthen Road GP surgery in Wickersley.

Jean said: “We presented the monitor in memory of Craig and to help other people, as well as to raise awareness. I don’t want anyone else to go through what we went through.”

A hospital spokesman said: “We are very grateful for this equipment. Heart monitors can help us check for and diagnose a range of heart problems.”