King Sturge initiative could save lives

FREE cardiac screening is being offered to staff working for property consultants King Sturge in memory of one of its young chartered surveyors.

Jonny Leigh died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart problem two years ago while training at King Sturge.

The company, shocked at his death, decided to launch an intiative offering an electrocardiagram (ECG) to all staff under 40.

The ECG screening is believed to be among the first launched by any business in the UK and is being co-ordinated through UK charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

So far more than 41 per cent of King Sturge's eligible UK staff has booked cardiac screening and 60 Leeds staff were recently screened.

The screening is also being made available to all new recruits to the property consultancy and to employees' children. The minimum age for screening is 14 years old.

Jonny Leigh, a keen sportsman from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, had been with King Sturge Retail Team for 10 months when he died.

More than eight people aged under 35 in the UK, who are regarded as fit and healthy, die suddenly each week of undiagnosed heart conditions.

The term`Sudden Death Syndrome' has come to cover many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people.

Colin Fell, partner in charge of the King Sturge Leeds office, said:

“Jonny Leigh was a talented and popular young man who had a bright future ahead of him at King Sturge if it had not been for his tragic death.

“Since his death we have contributed to several initiatives in his memory and are delighted that our suggestion for workplace EGC screening is being adopted by the business nationally to help prevent a similar tragedy among young members of our staff.”