Tottenham legend Justin Edinburgh died in hospital in 2019 less than a week after he suffered a cardiac arrest while he was working out and his family have continued to fight in his memory
Tottenham legend Justin Edinburgh died after suffering a cardiac arrest while working out a gym in 2019 – and the campaign for more life-saving equipment in everyday locations is still ongoing.
The Leyton Orient boss was just 49-years-old and died five days after collapsing at a Chelmsford gym while his wife, Kerri, watched on. There was no defibrillator on site and his son, Charlie, wants ‘Justin’s Law’ to be passed, meaning all gyms and sports facilities would have to have them on site, after his dad waited almost six minutes for life-saving equipment from a nearby shopping centre.
The issue has become a major talking point in recent years with the lives of Christian Eriksen and Tom Lockyer both saved by access to crucial medical equipment moments after suffering similar complications in the past three years. So much so, that the government made it law in 2023 that all schools must have at least one automated external defibrillator (AED) device on site at all times.
Edinburgh, who won the FA Cup in 1991, as well as the 1998-99 League Cup with Tottenham, would have turned 55 today, December 18. He played 276 Premier League games for Spurs and his funeral was attended by North London legends like Teddy Sheringham, Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles, with Gary Lineker describing him as “an excellent coach and terrific full-back who was a delight to share a dressing room with and have as a team-mate”.
His son Charlie, under the banner of the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation set up in his late father’s honour, told the Mirror back in 2019: “How many more cases like this are going to happen before they [the Government] stand up and take notice? They’re lifesaving pieces of equipment that are available to us.
“Surely common sense should prevail and they should be installed in the places that they need to be. Because otherwise other families are going to suffer the heartache that myself and my family have suffered.”
Charlie, who hailed his dad as his “hero”, says his father had been in great shape, even prepping for a marathon, before he collapsed but, with no defibrillator available, it was too late by the time his heart was restarted.
“We lost him five days later – he obviously suffered significant brain damage as a result of the blood not getting to his brain during the period of time that his heart had stopped,” Charlie said. He believes that if there had been a defibrillator at the gym, his dad might have had “every possible chance” of survival.
In response to the tragedy, the family are championing legislation through the JE3 Foundation to prevent similar heartbreak for other families. With the support of his mum, Kerri, and sister, Cydnie, the foundation also raises funds for defibrillators and CPR training.
JE3 donates three defibrillators per quarter, in Justin’s name, to community organisations. And Charlie said: “For us, in our mind, the tragic events that occurred with Christian Eriksen – it shouldn’t have taken that incident to occur to an elite performing athlete for people to stand up and take notice.
“Over 30,000 incidents like this take place outside of hospitals and if there is not a defibrillator onsite you have a one in 10 chance of survival.” Without legislation, we are going to “continue to lose lives that could be saved”, he warned.
You can find out more and support the Justin Edinburgh 3 Foundation‘s work on their website.