Parents of epileptics urged to be vigilant

The aunt of a young man who died following an epileptic seizure has urged parents whose children have epilepsy to remain vigilant.

Denise Leonard’s nephew, Johnny Healy, 25, died in his bedroom at the family home in Waterford City on April 19 following a seizure.

In a cruel twist of fate, Mr Healy’s mother, Siobhán, was downstairs listening to a discussion on The Late Late Show about the very disorder that claimed her son’s life. Siobhán in fact sent a text to Mr Healy urging him to join her in front of the television as Joe Schmidt, then Leinster rugby coach, and 2FM DJ Rick O’Shea discussed the impact of epilepsy on their lives. O’Shea was diagnosed with epilepsy at 16. Schmit’s son, Luke, has severe epilepsy.