‘Completely healthy’ promising footballer, 13, died suddenly after collapsing on pitch

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Louise Thomas

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The family of a promising footballer who died suddenly aged just 13 have spoken of their “incredibly difficult” loss as part of a new campaign to raise awareness about cardiac arrests among young people.

Jamie Skinner died without warning after collapsing while playing a game of football in Edinburgh, showing no signs of poor health previously. His family spoke to The Independent about their loss a decade on from the tragedy to mark World Heart Day on Sunday, a campaign to raise awareness of heart health.

Three days before Christmas 2013, Jamie collapsed on the pitch while playing in a match for Tynecastle Hearts Football Club. He was later found to have suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

His sister, Sonia Skinner, 39, told The Independent: “Jamie was playing football and just collapsed on the pitch. Initially, no one knew what had happened and everyone thought he had just passed out.

“Jamie was a very happy, easy-go-lucky lad. He always had a big smile on his face and was constantly cheery.

“He was fitness-mad and so young. He always wanted to be a professional football player and never ate any rubbish. You’d never think something like this would happen to him.”

The talented youngster was rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary but could not be saved, and his family were later told the teenager had an enlarged heart, which may have contributed to his cardiac arrest.

Jamie’s death was determined to be sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, but there was no known cause.

Ms Skinner added: “We were so shocked. I think if there had been a reason for why it happened it might have made things a little easier. In the weeks after losing Jamie I don’t think any of us really slept. We were so emotional. Just watching my family crumble was horrendous and Christmas was incredibly difficult.”

After his death, the family set up the Jamie Skinner Foundation to help provide defibrillators to communities and educate the public on how to use the lifesaving devices in the hope that other deaths could be prevented.

“We opened up our own charity because the defibrillator on site wasn’t used when Jamie collapsed so we wanted to raise awareness,” Ms Skinner said.

“Everyone always thinks cardiac arrest is something that happens to an older person and that it wouldn’t happen to someone younger.

“But that’s not the case. Someone of any age or of any health can have something going on underneath.”

The Jamie Skinner Foundation closed this year, having raised thousands of pounds which paid for more than 100 defibrillators and trained scores of people in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The charity’s remaining funds were donated to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Jamie’s family is speaking out about his story as part of a new campaign by the BHF to raise awareness that each week, 12 people aged under 35 die from sudden cardiac death in the UK.

The BHF unveiled a mural in Leith in Jamie’s memory ahead of Euro 2024 – one of 12 unveiled across the country, with each painting commemorating a talented young footballer or fan who died too soon.

David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: “It is devastating that Jamie’s hopes and dreams were cruelly snatched away from him. Our thoughts are with Jamie’s family, and we want to thank them for working with us to help create this powerful series which shows the true reality of sudden cardiac death.

“Each week, 12 young people under the age of 35 are lost to sudden cardiac death in the UK. These are the lives of children, siblings and parents ended in an instant, leaving their loved ones distraught. We can help put an end to this tragic reality by funding more lifesaving research – but we can only do this with the help of our supporters.

“By donating to the BHF, we can protect precious hearts and create a future where young people dying from sudden cardiac death is a distant memory.”