Patrick's death 'could have been prevented'

TRAGEDY: Murray (left) and Clinton Avery don't want other families to suffer like them. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 121213BF17

Rotorua cyclist Patrick Avery, an apparently fit and healthy 21-year-old, died suddenly last year from an undetected heart condition. His dad Murray and brother Clinton spoke to Rotorua Daily Post reporter Katie Holland about why his death didn't have to happen and their calls for compulsory testing of sportspeople

In the words of Rotorua's Clinton Avery, a funeral is "a sh***y way to find out how popular someone is".

He was talking about the huge turnout at his brother Patrick's Redwoods service a year ago.

Patrick, a top cyclist known by many as "Paddy", died in hospital after collapsing and falling from his bike during a race. A post mortem found he died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a common cause of sudden cardiac death in athletes.

An inquest into his death was held this week. For dad Murray it was about trying to make something positive out of the loss of his son. "Nothing's ever going to change what's happened but it might change for other families."

Murray, his wife Maryann and children Clinton and Monique told the coroner it should be mandatory for all top level athletes to undergo cardiac testing.

Murray has no doubts Patrick's death could have been prevented.

"When I look back at Patrick there were definitely signs alright but it's recognising the signs . . . I am not a doctor. I asked as many questions as I could and was given answers at the time that were unsatisfactory," he said.

"Clinton's cardiologist said if she had done an echo [cardiac test] on Patrick she could have said straight away [what was wrong]."

How does it feel to know that? "Stink."

Murray says Patrick's symptoms went on for a couple of years, including breathing and recovery problems and "hitting the wall" during races.

"He knew something was wrong, nobody could give him any answers."

As a result Patrick lost interest in the sport, focusing more on the "fun side of life", he says.

Clinton, a Belgium-based professional cyclist, was home last December 4 hunting in the bush. Murray walked through the darkness to tell him his brother was dead. "At about 4.30am we were heading out, [we] bumped into dad on the track . . . I saw his orange pockets and thought 'that's dad, something's not right'."

They walked out in record time going straight to the hospital so Clinton could see Patrick before an autopsy was performed.

Despite having been in the NZ Academy of Sport, Clinton says his heart wasn't tested until he went overseas. It's a requirement for European riders - without a medical sign-off they can't race. The Averys say New Zealand cyclists should also have to be tested to get a Bike NZ licence.

Murray says Patrick was probably born with the gene - the rest of the family have now been tested.

Murray hesitates when asked if he worries about Clinton and Monique, an Xterra triathlete and mountain biker.

"Yes and no. It's not something that happens in weeks, it happens over a period of time. Now that we know about it, the signs and symptoms, we can recognise that."

Murray wants to raise awareness among athletes, sporting bodies, parents, coaches and the medical profession of the strain going on athletes' hearts and the potentially tragic consequences of ignoring that.

"All I can say to parents of athletes, for the cost of the test it's pretty good insurance," he said. "If you know there's something not quite right keep pursuing it. It doesn't matter how many times you get told there's nothing wrong."