100 holes of golf in memory of Longridge man who died suddenly to ‘silent killer’

Family and friends of Longridge man Andrew Key who passed away earlier this year are to play 100 holes of golf in his memory.

In a Facebook post about the charity fundraiser, Andrew’s brother Paul Key said: “Five and a half rounds of golf, starting at 4.30am, around 30 miles of walking, 15 to 20 hours of golf and a LOT of swings!”

The event will take place at Longridge Golf Club on Friday 25 June and will involve Paul and his friends.

It will raise awareness of the ‘silent killer’ that sadly took his brother’s life, Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS), which is also known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

The all-day golf session sponsors Cardiac Risk in the Young, the charity supporting Andrew’s fiancée and family throughout the difficult time they have faced following his sudden passing.

Friday 15 January was a normal day for Andrew’s fiancée Dani and their two-year-old son Arlo. However that morning Andrew, aged just 31, collapsed in the bathroom at their family home in Longridge. Sadly he was pronounced dead a short time later.

There was nothing which could’ve foreseen the morning’s cruel events and Andrew had no symptoms prior to suggest he needed urgent medical help.

A pathologist later concluded Andrew died from SADS.

Sudden Cardiac Death is defined as an event that is non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected, and resulting from sudden cardiac arrest within six hours of previously witnessed normal health.

The charity’s independent research demonstrated 12 young people die in the UK every week of previously undiagnosed cardiac conditions – prior to this research it was believed it could be as low as one a week. 80 per cent of these deaths occur with no prior symptoms.

Dani, 29, explained how important it is to raise awareness for the charity as she said: “Since that terrible day, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) have been invaluable to myself and Andrew’s family.

“They have provided us with emotional and clinical support during this difficult time, and we do not know where we would be without them (probably still searching for answers!)

“They have guided us through every step of this difficult journey and most importantly they have given us dedicated bereavement support.”

Andy Key was a well known Longridge lad.

The condition Dani describes as a ‘silent killer’ has suddenly taken Andrew from his fiance, son, family and friends without warning. Together since they were teenagers, Dani and Andrew had been due to marry in August this year after their wedding was postponed due to Covid-19.

Dani wants to raise awareness about what the charity do in memory of her much-loved fiancé.

She told Blog Preston: “CRY offer cardiac screenings for young people to help identify those who may be at risk and can help secure a future for those identified.

“Unfortunately Andy’s future has been taken away but by raising awareness I hope to be able to potentially save another young person’s life and prevent another family having to through the same terrible thing.

“Andy had no symptoms and would have been completely unaware that he had an ‘electrical fault’ in his heart, but if he had attended a screening then maybe he would still be here with us today.”

The golfing event will be a fun but significant day for those whose lives were impacted so positively by Andy, as his brother and friends partake in his memory.

Paul said: “Raising awareness is the main goal, but if anyone could spare a little and would like to sponsor us anything at all, it would be greatly appreciated. Just helping to raise awareness is such a help.”

Dani, who was with Andrew for 11 years, advises all young people to attend a cardiac screening if they can. She said: “I hope that next time a young person has a chance to attend a free cardiac screening they will think of Andy’s story and get themselves checked.