Heart defect led to gym death
A NURSERY teacher who died aged just 27 after collapsing on a treadmill at a Sheffield gym was suffering from a rare and undiagnosed heart condition which she knew nothing about, an inquest heard.
Catherine Walker, of Kilton Hill, Pitsmoor, who was also a Christian missionary, suffered a cardiac arrest while using the gym at Hillsborough Leisure Centre.
Pathologist Kin Suvarna told Sheffield Coroners' Court that her condition meant a heart attack was waiting to happen – and that no matter how heroic the rescue effort, she was unlikely to recover.
Catherine was exercising in the gym in April this year when she collapsed.
Gym staff tried desperately to save her before paramedics arrived but she died later the same morning at the Northern General Hospital.
Dr Suvarna said: "If you are in hospital when you suffer a cardiac arrest there is always a better chance of survival than when in the community – but this is something that people rarely recover from."
The condition – arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy – is usually inherited, the inquest heard, but in this case it was more likely to have been a spontaneous event, said Dr Suvarna.
He explained that the disorder causes heart cells to die as a person grows older. The cells cannot be replaced and are instead substituted by fatty tissue – leaving the heart vulnerable.
Dr Suvarna said: "This lady would have been completely unaware of this – it is often only diagnosed after death.
"It could have happened any time, anywhere, but there is more of a risk if you are exercising.
"But it can catch up with you at any time."
The hearing was told Catherine had complained of an abnormal heart beat in the months leading to her death but Dr Suvarna said: "The palpitations were a warning but it is difficult to take that leap from palpitations to a heart condition."
Catherine worked as a Christian missionary alongside her husband Ronan for St Thomas' Philadelphia Church, in Gilpin Street, Upperthorpe.
Deputy coroner Judith Naylor recorded her death as due to natural causes.
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is thought to affect one in 10,000 people but many cardiologists believe it to be more common with many cases going undiagnosed.
Robert Hall, chief executive of the Cardiomyopathy Association, which provides support for those who have been diagnosed, said: "If a young person experiences a near fainting episode, or collapse of unknown cause, they should see a doctor immediately."
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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