A father who lost his son to an undiagnosed heart condition returned to his son’s school to help deliver free heart screenings.

Romford Recorder: Peter Patterson of CRY (Cardiac Risk Youth) is holding free heart-condition screening at Campion School after his son died at an early age. Pupil Max Wright aged 15 undergoing the screeningPeter Patterson of CRY (Cardiac Risk Youth) is holding free heart-condition screening at Campion School after his son died at an early age. Pupil Max Wright aged 15 undergoing the screening (Image: Archant)

Peter Patterson arranged for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (Cry) to visit The Campion School, Wingletye Lane in Hornchurch on May 15 and 16.

“We screened 192 people over the two days, and the day before yesterday we screened our 1,000th student,” Peter said.

“On average, a 14 to 35-year-old dies each week from a heart condition they didn’t know they had.

“The point of screening is to find out these things beforehand.”

Peter’s son James died aged 28 in 2005. He went to the school and played back row at Campion Rugby Club in Cottons Park, Romford for nine years.

Once a year Peter organises the Cry visits, going into the school in memory of his son, so that James’ death would not be in vain.