Schoolgirl’s family lead campaign for defibrillators

THE sudden death of a seven-year-old Waterford girl could save other lives thanks to her family’s campaign to get defibrillators into every school in the country.

Becky Whelan was on a trip with her classmates from Crehana National School last June when her heart suddenly stopped during some light physical activity. “The teachers reacted straight away, she was within three minutes of the hospital in Waterford city but there was nothing they could do and sadly she didn’t recover,” said Becky’s aunt, Breda Fitzgerald.

Her parents Vincent and Bridget Ann later found out she had a genetic condition known as long QT syndrome which caused an electric short in her heart. She had passed out a few times previously but the rare condition was not linked to it until after she died.