The charity CRY urges young people between the age of 14 and 35 years of age to get screened particularly if they are engaged in sport.

On January 30 and 31, CRY will be holding the first community ECG screening event at the Parkhouse Centre in Bude where any fit and healthy young person can go and get tested. Donations made in memory of Martyn Luckett from Hartland who died of Myocarditis, aged 19, will fund the appointments at this event, this would usually cost £35 per person.

Martyn's mother Brenda said: "On July 11 we lost our youngest son Martyn, he was staying with his sister Charlotte in Swindon. We had that dreaded phone call at 1am, to say that he had passed away suddenly. After a post mortem there was nothing they could find so we donated his heart to research to help others.

"He was a fit healthy young man and keen motor cycle trials rider, representing the South West on many occasions. We were very proud of him. This changed our lives completely. We have always done fundraising and now we have raised £18,000 in the last four years for other people to be tested."

Dr Steven Cox, CRY's Director of Screening explained: "The death of a young person is heartbreaking and devastating for any family. At CRY, we would encourage all families to have their children screened for any underlying heart conditions. Twelve young people die every week in the UK and one in every three hundred apparently fit and healthy young people have a serious underlying condition.

"Minor cardiac abnormalities will be identified in one per cent of people, although not life threatening they will have a long term impact if not identified. I would encourage people to get in touch with the CRY and arrange to be screened."

He added: "It is essential that anyone with a condition knows about it. If they continue to participate in sport or take particular medication for example they could be putting their lives at risk. They may not show any symptoms or warning signs.

"There is a simple way to identify most of these abnormalities — this is by having an ECG test. The test is quick and painless. If necessary a further echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of the heart) can be taken to provide further clarity."

Dr Cox continued: "Screening needs to be extended to all young people. Everyone is potentially at risk from these conditions and the only accurate means of identifying them is through an electrocardiogram. Our screening events are a step in the right direction and will help raise the profile of these conditions.

"Although it is essential to look out for the warning signs, our experience is that in 80 per cent of cases there are no symptoms prior to death and the only way the condition could have been detected would have been if cardiac tests were conducted."

To book an appointment at this screening event or for more information go to http://www.c-r-y.org.uk/ecg.htm">www.c-r-y.org.uk/ecg.htm.