THREE lives have potentially been saved thanks to a pioneering cardiac screening programme inspired by a Rugby man who died of an undiagnosed heart condition.
The scheme to identify similar conditions in the young was launched in memory of Anthony Lane – who died in 2022 at the age of just 26 when he suffered a cardiac arrest while exercising.
From over 100 people who attended the first screening session, three were identified as being at risk.
Anthony was a talented mechanical engineer who landed his dream job at Mercedes F1 in Northamptonshire.
Anthony’s death led his family to the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) charity, inspiring his dad Paul to hold the first of many screening sessions at Sutton Coldfield Town FC.
Paul, who is the President of the town’s Wylde Green Rotary Club, adopted CRY as the club’s Charity of the Year, and has headed up fund-raising campaigns and secured Rotary grants to fund the session.
He said: “My wife Penny and I are very grateful for the support on the day of our family, friends and members of the Rotary Club of Wylde Green together with funding from the Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust.
“It was, for us, a day of emotional highs and lows and we were totally humbled by the huge support we have and continue to receive from everyone who learns of Anthony’s story.
“This would make him very proud. We have potentially saved at least three young lives but have also continued the quest of the CRY charity, and all the other bereaved families who are affected, to increase awareness.”
Among those being screened was Anthony’s friend Charlie Hodgson, who said: “Anthony and I studied together at Birmingham University. He was a true engineer, thorough and meticulous in everything he did. He was an incredibly kind person and a very good friend.”
A talented mechanical engineer, Anthony was proud to land his dream job at Mercedes F1 in Northamptonshire, after graduating from Birmingham University in 2019. He was Technical Director for the University of Birmingham Racing (UBR) Team which competes at Silverstone each year.
Paul said: “One morning in 2022, Anthony was on his turbo trainer bike at home, exercising alone. His partner returned home after shopping to find him unresponsive on the floor. West Midlands Ambulance Service and the Air Ambulance attended but unfortunately Anthony had already passed away.
“It is believed that Anthony had an undiagnosed heart condition, from which he had no symptoms. It is likely that Anthony’s heart ‘short-circuited’ and went into a lethal arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation that causes sudden cardiac death if not treated immediately with CPR and defibrillation.
“This led us to CRY and we learned more about the research they’re doing and their lobbying of politicians to try and get the UK government to test young people between the ages of 14 and 34.“
Anthony Lane, right, with parents Paul and Penny and siblings Richard and Kat.
Colleagues at Mercedes at Brixworth have dedicated an annual Karting Cup to Anthony’s memory. It is presented by Paul and Penny and raises money for Anthony’s Memorial Fund.
In a special memorial tribute, his name was added to the nose cone of drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russells’ cars in the 2022 F1 racing season.
Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has provided funding to hold nine more annual screening sessions in the town at a cost of £6,500.
CRY CEO Dr Steven Cox said: “This tremendous ongoing support will ensure that our team will be able to return to the area again, to test the hearts of more and more young people, ensuring that underlying heart conditions in young people, aged between 14 and 35, can be identified and treated. Together, we can save young lives.”
Paul added: “Anthony was a perfectly healthy young person who, like all young people, didn’t go to the doctor and who thought he was invincible. One minute he was perfectly fit on his turbo trainer, the next minute he’s gone.
“It is so tragic that this happened but we like to think of this project as a lasting memorial to him.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/bdfrm6m8 to support Anthony’s friends in their next fundraiser.
