Earlier this week, Melissa Smith a 15 year-old girl from Lancashire collapsed and died following a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) whilst playing in her local team Cadley FC. Despite CPR and a defibrillator being used at the scene of her collapse, she was taken to Royal Preston Hospital by an ambulance where she was then pronounced dead.

 

Melissa had been playing against Euxton Girls FC U16s in Greenside Lancashire when she suffered from cardiac arrest. Opposition coach Mick Walsh said: "It happened just before half-time. There was nobody around the girl at the time byt she suddenly fell to the ground between the halfway line and the penalty box.

"We got the defibrillator and tried CPR while the ambulance was called. We all hoped and prayed that she'd make a full recovery but it was to no avail.

"Our thoughts are with Cadley FC and the family. I've been involved in football for 40 years and nothing like this has happened before - and I hope it never happens again."

 

SCA can strike in anyone of any health, age or gender. Research has shown however that on occasion, those which participate in intense actvity on a regular basis can significantly raise their risk of heart attack if they have an unknown heart abnormality.

CRY's director Dr Steve Cox is working to reduce the risks of SCA in young people through a mandatory screening which will hopefully identiify any heart conditions, so they can be managed effectively and avoid the risk of an unexpected attack.

Hand on Heart works tirelessly to help equip schools and sports clibs with life-saving defibrillators, so the correct equipment can be used, should a sudden cardiac arrest occur in the area. We aim to donate at least one defibrillator to a school in the UK each month through our nominations. To learn more or to view our defibrillator package options, please click here.