A young north Belfast man who died of cardiac arrest has been featured in a video series by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to raise awareness of a rare condition that can prove fatal.
The series, seeking to highlight that a dozen young people aged under 35 die each week in the UK from sudden heart attacks, includes family footage featuring sentimental photographs of Joseph Burns and focuses on his aspirations for the future.
The 23-year-old fitness enthusiast “had everything going for him” and harboured hopes of one day launching his own business and starting a family.
Joseph’s sister Jeanette recalled her “typical” brother’s “strong work ethic” and plans to “one day be his own boss.”
“He never stopped,” she said.
“He had a strong work ethic, he worked during the day as an electrician and then worked evenings in the bar.
“Joseph was really passionate about his work, planning that one day he would be his own boss and run his own business.”
But her beloved brother passed away suddenly in his parent’s home back in July 2014, not long after qualifying as an electrician.
Joseph was rushed to the Matter Hospital by ambulance but, despite the best efforts from medics, nothing could be done to save him.
“When Joseph died our family were absolutely devastated,” Jeanette recalls in the video.
“He was the only boy in our family and everyone just loved him.”
British Heart Foundation share video to raise awareness of sudden cardiac arrest
After his death, Jeanette and her mum both discovered they carry a gene for Long QT syndrome after visiting Belfast’s inherited cardiac conditions service.
The condition puts its carriers at risk of an irregular heartbeat with symptoms ranging from none at all to fainting episodes and, in some cases, death.
“We didn’t know what had caused his death and it was hard dealing with that because we didn’t have any answers,” Jeanne explained
“We were referred to the inherited cardiac conditions service in Belfast and after tests we discovered that my mum Una and I carry the faulty gene for Long QT syndrome, so it is very likely that is what Joseph died from.”
“He was so well known in north Belfast and after his death so many people contacted us to say what a gentleman he was. He made such a big impact on so many people.”
A mural was unveiled by BHF NI at Linenhall Street in Belfast City Centre last year in Joseph’s memory.
The family now hope that the video series, which has been rolled out on both Facebook and YouTube, will help make a difference and “keep his memory alive.”
Head of the BHF NI, Fearghal McKinney, said it is “devastating that Joseph’s hopes and dreams were cruelly snatched away from him” at such a young age.
“Our thoughts are with Joseph’s family, and we want to thank them for working with us to help create this powerful series which shows the true reality of sudden cardiac death,” he added.
“Each week, 12 young people under the age of 35 are lost to sudden cardiac death in the UK.
“These are the lives of children, siblings and parents ended in an instant, leaving their loved ones distraught.”