Adam Ankers, a 17-year-old footballer, died on February 4, 2024, after suffering unsurvivable brain damage, according to multiple reports. He had collapsed while playing for the Wycombe Wanderers’ Foundation Under-19 team on January 31, 2024. Assistant coroner Valerie Charbit found that his death was 'more than minimally' contributed to by a failure to identify that he was experiencing cardiac arrest.
According to major media, Adam shouted 'my chest is tight' before falling unconscious. He died due to an inherited heart condition, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, that had not been identified at the time of his death, Assistant coroner Valerie Charbit stated. Agonal breathing and cardiac arrest were not identified by the 999 call handler or those on the pitch, and first basic life support was performed by paramedics when they arrived, Assistant coroner Valerie Charbit reported.
There was a missed opportunity to deliver basic life support for Adam.
A defibrillator was brought to the pitch within a couple of minutes of Adam's collapse but was not used due to confusion as to whether it was safe to apply, multiple reports indicate. Assistant coroner Valerie Charbit recommended that the Football Association mandate a training course for all its accredited members, including grassroots football coaches and referees, to equip them with the ability to spot the signs of sudden cardiac arrest. The Football Association argued against making the training mandatory, contending that it would exclude younger individuals from refereeing roles.
Assistant coroner Valerie Charbit disagreed with the FA's stance, stating that children are allowed to train in first aid and that responsibility for first aid lies with all ages within society. Adam's family urged the coroner to broaden the recommendation to encompass all sports, but the assistant coroner deemed this an 'overreach', according to major media. The inquest highlighted critical gaps in emergency response protocols at grassroots football events, emphasizing the need for better preparedness to handle sudden cardiac arrests.
Agonal breathing was poorly recognised by the call handler and it should be recognised as a feature consistent with cardiac arrest.
This case underscores the importance of timely intervention in such medical emergencies, where every second counts.
The AED (automated external defibrillator) was not used and it could have been, even if there was uncertainty as to whether Adam was breathing, because the device will say whether the patient should be shocked or not.
I disagree as to the fact that that shouldn’t be something that children should engage in.
Children are allowed to train in first aid… I consider it important that the responsibility for first aid lies with all ages within society and outweighs any concern that this would stop them becoming referees.