Simon passed away suddenly shortly after his 69th birthday. He had a cardiac arrest while jogging around the park with an old friend. He died instantly.

It was completely unexpected. Simon was fit and well. He spent his whole life doing sports. Whether if was football, running (his favourite distances were 800 and 1500 m), cross country races, tennis, golf, walking football as he got older. You name it and he would have a go. He was always trying to get better, quicker, and fitter. He never smoked, had a social drink occasionally and ate a good diet.

His family learned from the coroner’s report that the arteries that pump blood to the heart were severely blocked and damaged. Simon had no symptoms, no alarm bells and no warning of any kind that would have possibly prevented his death. He didn’t have a chance to get a diagnosis or treatment. It was a very slow build up over decades that stayed hidden despite everything he did to stay fit and healthy.

Heart disease is a silent killer. If you’re lucky you will get a warning but sadly Simon never knew he had it.