Dad’s Apple Watch picked up irregularity earlier than he tragically died after six-aside
A young dad tragically collapsed dead after playing footie with his mates.
Jack Derbyshire, from Tameside, Manchester, was just 27 when he was discovered unresponsive following a six-a-side game on Monday night (November 18). The young dad, who was due to get married, leaves behind a three-year-old daughter.
The dad of one discovered he had a heart condition earlier this year, after his Apple smartwatch alerted him to an irregular heartbeat.
After a deep dive by medics, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an irregular and sometimes rapid-fire heart rate alongside dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), making his ticker both larger and weaker. The docs said he needed an internal defibrillator and he was on the waiting list for the op, according to his shattered mum Lianne, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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She revealed that Jack was football-mad and had begged his doctors to let him keep playing. Lianne, who admitted she “still can’t quite believe” the devastating turn of events, recalled: “They said he didn’t have to give it up completely. But they told him to stop when he felt tired and not to push himself.”
She revealed that he had stopped playing in 11-a-side Sunday morning football, but continued to participate in a six-a-side league he had established. “He would play five or six minutes just to keep himself involved,” Lianne added.
On Monday, after finishing his game, he returned to his car while his mates watched another match at the pitches at Curzon Ashton FC’s ground The Tameside Stadium.
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When they returned to their vehicles, they discovered Jack collapsed. They began CPR as emergency services were called, but he could not be saved.
Jack was the assistant manager at the McDonald’s in Denton, where he worked alongside his brother Tom, 20. He resided in Stalybridge with his fiancee Charlotte and their three year old daughter Lyla. A huge City fan, he had a season ticket with Tom and his dad Peter, 52.
“He absolutely adored his family,” Lianne said. “He doted on his daughter. He just loved life. He was a big music fan, big Oasis fan, big fan of The K’s. He loved going to gigs. He absolutely loved football and he had a season ticket at City.”
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“It was his life and he lived it to the full. I think that’s why his heart condition affected him so much. He had written his Christmas list and at the top he put ‘a working heart’. It was heartbreaking really.”
In a show of incredible community spirit, hundreds have already chipped in to a fundraiser set up for his grieving family. A heartfelt homage is on the cards for the die-hard Manchester City supporter at this Saturday’s face-off at the Etihad Stadium.
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