Tragic son’s life-saving legacy

Date published: 14 October 2014


A COUPLE whose son died suddenly during a cross-country run hope their gift to his former school will prevent other parents suffering such heartbreak.

Since the death of Ashley Livesey (15), from Shaw, who collapsed on a school cross-country run more than a decade ago, his parents Julie and Gary have worked to raise awareness of sudden arrhythmia death syndrome (SADS) and raised the money to buy a portable defibrillator for his school, Royton and Crompton.

Julie and Gary have raised more than £7,000 since the death of their son and have donated several pieces of life-saving equipment to the community. They support cardiac charity SADS UK’s national Big Shock campaign, to place defibrillators in schools.

School staff have been trained how to use the new machine by the North-West Ambulance Service.

The inspirational mum and dad said having this piece of equipment at the school Ashley went to makes them happy because the chances of other parents having to experience what they have has now been decreased.

Gary said: “Hopefully it will never be used but it gives us that piece of mind. If the school had had one at the time, maybe he would not have died. But what we should focus on now is doing all we can to prevent something like that happening again.”

Dr Kevin O’Hagan, head teacher at Royton and Crompton School, said: “This donation is a considerate and valuable gift to the entire community.”

The Northern Schools Cross Country Championships are now named after Ashley, as is Royton and Crompton School’s Outstanding Pupil of the Year award.