Family’s anguish over tragic death of son, 21 (From York Press)

Family’s anguish over tragic death of son, 21

11:02am Monday 12th February 2007 in News By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter

AT teatime, he was laughing and joking with his parents, having apparently recovered well from a bout of flu.

But within hours, Jamie Tidswell was being rushed to York Hospital after collapsing at his Acomb home, and doctors were battling to discover what was wrong with him.

Less than two days later, the previously healthy 21-year-old was dead, with his condition still undiagnosed.

His devastated parents, Derek and Pauline, said today a post mortem examination had subsequently revealed he had fallen victim to viral myocarditis, an inflammation of his heart muscles.

As they prepared for his funeral at York Crematorium this lunchtime, the couple, of Sowerby Road, Acomb, paid tribute to a loving and caring son who "would do anything for anyone."

Mr Tidswell, 52, said: "They say that only the good die young and it is certainly true with Jamie. We know God has a good un up there with him.

"We can say with pride it was a privilege to have had a son like Jamie. He would do anything for anyone.

"We know he would have made a great dad. All the kids on both sides of the family loved him. A large chunk of our lives has been taken away."

The couple said Jamie, known as Jay, a former Joseph Rowntree School and York College student, was 6ft 6ins tall and worked recently as a barman at Ziggy's Nightclub in Micklegate. He had been their "best man" a couple of years ago when they had renewed their marriage vows to mark their silver wedding.

They said he had fallen ill with flu last month, but had appeared to be recovering well until the evening of Monday January 29. "At half past six, he was laughing and joking with us," said Mrs Tidswell. "He was a joker, who could brighten up your day just by being there or coming out with something that would lift you up when you were feeling down.

"I went out to friends, but when I got back, I found a note saying Derek had gone with Jamie to hospital by ambulance."

Mr Tidswell said Jamie, who had a 24-year-old sister, Kim, had said he felt unwell and gone up to bed. "I heard a bang and rushed upstairs to find him collapsed on the floor in the doorway of his bedroom."

At hospital, Jamie's blood pressure started to fall, and doctors began trying to diagnose what was wrong. "They thought he had pneumonia and began administering all kinds of drugs through lines, including antibiotics and adrenaline for his heart. There were six syringe pumps stuffing things into him and eight bags pumping fluid in."

But his condition continued to deteriorate, and he became agitated and was in great pain, and on the morning of Wednesday January 31, the couple rushed into the ward to find doctors trying in vain to resuscitate him. "The consultant and the nurses were crying," said Mrs Tidswell, 44. "They had tried to save him and were very upset."

Her husband said only when a post mortem examination had been carried out did they discover what was wrong with Jamie - he had viral myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle caused by a virus.

"The coroner said there was nothing anybody could have done," said his wife. She said they thought it was probably linked to the flu, but they hoped to find out more from doctors later.

A coroner's officer said a post mortem examination had shown Jamie died of natural causes, and there would therefore be no inquest.

Family thanks work colleagues

JAMIE'S parents today thanked colleagues at York insurance giant Norwich Union, where they both work, for helping them get through a traumatic time.

Derek and Pauline Tidswell said they particularly wanted to thank five colleagues and friends, Karen Johnson, Maria Brunt, Mark Lewis, Susan Hunt and Paul Awcock, who had been "absolutely fantastic."

Mrs Tidswell said: "Karen and Maria have brought us meals and done the shopping. Without them, we couldn't have managed.

"Mark has arranged to have the converted Chapel which is owned by Norwich Union at Clifton park reserved for use today after the funeral service, which takes place at York Crematorium at lunchtime, and the company has kindly donated a buffet for all the mourners."

A deadly condition

MYOCARDITIS is an inflammation of the the muscular part of the heart. It is generally due to an infection, viral or bacterial, and can follow flu-like illnesses.

In young adults, up to 20 per cent of all cases of sudden death are said to be due to myocarditis.

Depending on the cause and severity, symptoms and possible problems can range from no symptoms at all, to life-threatening heart failure.