Scott McCollin was a fit young man. He never smoked, he never drank alcohol. Perhaps a rarity for a 20-year old DJ. Rarer still was the way Scott died.
After collapsing at a go-karting track whilst on holiday in Lanzarote, the young man was soon pronounced dead at the scene. Doctors say he died from Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). It’s a rare condition, but it still claims the lives of 3,000 young people in the UK and Ireland each year.
Most famously, SDS was recently highlighted by the death of Cameroon footballer Marc-Vivien Foẻ. Without warning, the 28-year-old collapsed and died in front of millions watching TV coverage of the international against Columbia.
Eleven years earlier, Daniel Yorath – 15-year-old son of Leeds legend Terry collapsed and died playing football in the back garden with his father. The youngster had just signed for Leeds United and had a promising career ahead of him.
But Scott McCollin’s family have decided that since Scott died in November 2002 not enough is being done by medical experts to curb the deaths. And they’re calling for more attention to be made on the practice or prevention rather than cure.
They want more research into conditions like cardiomyopathy – an almost untraceable genetic condition that causes a thickening of the muscle in the heart wall.
It often strikes physically active young people and may cause symptoms of fatigue.
Sportsmen and women often read the signs incorrectly and believe they need to train harder – thus placing more stress on the heart.
Plenty of celebrity sports figures – Ian Botham and Steve Redgrave amongst them – are also calling for more awareness of the reality behind SDS. But no amount of research will bring Scott back to his loving family who recently gathered in Lanzarote again to honour his life.
“I don’t think there will come a time when we can make sense of what happened that day,” says Scott’s mother, Linda.
“It was the first day of our holiday and we all decided to spend the day go-karting. We were having a great time – all the men held a race and then all the women.
“Scott had said that he felt a bit dodgy so we needed to get him a Coke and a bar of chocolate – a bit of sugar boost normally helps.”
But there would be no time. Within seconds of walking into the toilet block, Scott simply passed out.
Family members tried to bring the youngster round, but to no avail.
An uncle and cousin tried desperately to administer CPR and heart massage as others frantically call for an ambulance.
Nearby Scott’s girlfriend – Jade Shorter – stood helpless as her fiancé of two years died in front of her.
“I saw people shouting near the toilet block and I knew Scott had gone in there,” said the 20-year-old.
“I remember screaming for help – but none of it seemed real at the time and the rest is really just a blur.
“I’m still very shocked and to be honest, very angry about Scott being taken from me and his family – he was such a wonderful person he didn’t deserve this.”
The paramedics could not save the young holidaymaker. Their efforts to bring him back to life continued for over half an hour. But failure to revive him even left the ambulance crew in tears.
A post mortem report left more questions than answers for the family.
“They said it was the adult equivalent of cot death” explained Linda.
“None of us were aware of the existence of such a thing but when we discovered how many unexplained deaths are put down to SDS we were shocked.
“Now I just really want this to be recognised because I would hate for any mother to go through what I have been through – the Government needs to sit up and take notice.”
Remarkably, Scott’s father – Soxteen McCollin died in similar circumstances aged just 44. The family believes whatever condition claimed young Scott must have been hereditary.
They are all actively involved in an organisation called CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young). The group is campaigning for more research and support. In November last year, family members who had been in Lanzarote on that day returned to the island.
In fact they returned to the go-karting track where Scott lost his life and held a brief service.
Bosses at the track even closed the complex for the private ceremony and planted a tree in Scott’s honour. They even gave a commemorative plaque to Linda.
“What a wonderful thing to do,” she said.
“They didn’t have to close the track, they didn’t even have to let us hold any kind of memorial but they did and that just shows what caring people the Canarians are.”
