Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham has called for a national heart defect screening programme in the wake of a North Staffordshire teenager’s sudden death.
Sir Ian OBE spoke out during a special visit to Porthill Park Cricket Club where he unveiled the Nathan Butler Memorial Stand on Saturday.
He had accepted an invitation to mark the new stand from parents of 16-year-old Nathan, a promising young cricketer who lost his life after being struck down by an undiagnosed heart defect last year.
A cheer rang out among members and friends of the club as a commemorative plaque was unveiled and the special ceremony rounded off with a one minute long round of applause.
Sir Ian, who raised more than £10 million for good causes since retiring from cricket, also serves as honorary president of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
He said: “It’s very sad what happened to Nathan. I think there should be automatic screening for heart conditions in the young and it’s something we are trying to get the Government to do.
“In some countries like Italy and America they already routinely screen young adults and that’s what we should be doing.
“The Government should spend money on sending a bus around Britain to screen youngsters, rather than spend it on telling children how to behave, which they should be learning at home anyway. These tragedies are very preventable.”
Nathan, who lived at Hassam Parade, Wolstanton, was a talented cricketer at the Porthill club before his life was tragically cut short.
The memorial stand, which cost about £15,000, was built by his father Phil as a lasting tribute to him. It was paid for by a series of fundraising efforts and money was also donated to CRY.
Sir Ian, who posed for photographs and signed autographs during the visit, added: “Nathan’s parents have turned a tragedy round into something this club will benefit from for years to come.”
Nathan’s proud dad, Phil Butler, said: “I was overwhelmed to meet Ian, but he was so down to earth and friendly. He was my hero and Nathan was a big fan of his as well. Nathan was an all-rounder like Ian and he looked up to him. I think there are 8,000 bricks in the stand and all but about 1,000 of them I have fitted myself. It’s all I can do for Nathan.”
Nathan’s mum, Angela added: “Nathan would have been well pleased. It’s a fitting tribute to him. He was at the cricket club all the time, he would come home from school and go straight there. We can’t thank people enough for their help.”
Club chairman Simon Ellams said: “Nathan was a very promising cricketer. He had just broken into the first team at the age of 15. His death was very sad.
“He was very popular and that shows. We were thrilled to welcome Sir Ian.”
Nathan’s old team-mate Justin Mould, aged 20, of Werrington, said: “The stand is amazing, it would be just what Nathan would have wanted.”
