A FATHER whose son died from an undiagnosed heart defect will be bringing two days of cardiac screenings to Barrow available to anyone aged 13 to 45. 

David Hughes, who works with BAE Systems, was hit by tragedy when his 28-year-old son Daniel died in his sleep from an undiagnosed heart defect on March 18, 2015. 

Daniel lived an active life as a postman, regularly going to the gym, not smoking and not over-indulging in drinking. Yet he was one of many young people to suffer Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) from a heart problem that neither he nor his relatives knew about. 

Mr Hughes has previously hosted cardiac screening events for BAE apprentices in 2019 through the charity Cardiac Risk for the Young (CRY).

The Mail: David Hughes with a CRY volunteer demonstrates how an ECG test worksDavid Hughes with a CRY volunteer demonstrates how an ECG test works (Image: Submitted)

 However he realised that contractors did not have access to these events and wanted to create open screening sessions available to the general public in Barrow. 

This had to be postponed due to the pandemic. Mr Hughes has finally managed to get February 24 and 25 2024 booked with CRY and hopes to get one hundred people through the screening each day. Mr Hughes said that Hawcoat Park Sports Club might be used as the venue. 

People who have booked a session will get an Electrocardiogram (ECG) test that will be read by a cardiologist. All of CRY's public events are free to attend. 

READ MORE: Parents call for more heart screenings following sudden death of their son

David said: "Daniel lived his life perfectly clean and healthy. We talked to him the night before he died and if somebody said to me that this is the last time you will see him alive I would have laughed. 

"You can't see inside what is going on in your heart." 

Mr Hughes is from the Stoke-on-Trent area but spends much of his week in Barrow. He said that there had been issues at a previous event in Stoke with people booking and then not showing up. He will create a reserve list with the request that people who have booked a session but cannot make it tell CRY so that someone else can take their place. 

The Mail: Mr Hughes said he would have 'laughed' if somebody told him that he would not see Daniel alive again the night before he diedMr Hughes said he would have 'laughed' if somebody told him that he would not see Daniel alive again the night before he died (Image: Submitted)

He said that he is looking for sponsors for the event and will do a fundraiser to help cover its costs. 

He asked companies interested in sponsoring to email him at hughesdavid6858@gmail.com.