Former Leicestershire batsman and senior coach Tim Boon backs JHMT call for all ‪sports coaches‬ to have key skills to deal with ‪SADS

Tim Boon, the former Leicestershire batsman and senior coach, is supporting a conference to raise awareness of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).

The conference, which takes place on October 2, has been organised by the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

The trust was set up following the sudden death of 14-year-old Joe, the son of former Leicester City goalkeeper Steve, who collapsed and died while out jogging in 2012.

Boon, now an England development programme coach based at Loughborough, is a friend of Steve Humphries, and supports the JHMT.

He has already helped to raise awareness of SADS by running a CPR – cardio- pulmonary resuscitation – course for England Under-19 cricketers last year.

The JHMT campaigns for a better understanding of sudden, unexpected death in young people, and for compulsory CPR training in schools and defibrillators in schools, community venues and sports clubs.

Martin Johnson, England's rugby World Cup-winning captain of 2003, will open the third annual SADS conference as a patron of the trust.

SADS is part of a group of subtle heart diseases that claim the lives of 12 teenagers and young adults, aged 12-35, every week in the UK.

Workshops included in the conference programme cover topics such as ECG recognition, screening for families, bereavement and family support, and how to spot the warning signs of SADS.

There will also be a simulated scene of someone collapsing with SADS to evaluate responses.
To kick off the sports session in the afternoon, a sports question time with a panel of cardiology specialists will open up the debate and invite members of the audience to ask questions.
Guest speakers will include cardiologists Dr Graham Stuart and Dr Rajay Narain, as well as Dr Kal Parmar, a sports specialist.

Online booking is now open.