UK man dies from heart failure after having defibrillator fitted in his chest

A father who was only the second person in the UK to be fitted with a defibrillator under his skin has died.

Blake Calverley, now 21, suffered from the same rare heart condition as former Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba which caused an enlarged organ.

Doctors wired a device to his heart – that bulged from the left side of his chest – and saved his life several times – but his family were warned he was ‘incurable’.

It delivered a powerful shock without warning when his heart began to fail and was responsible for keeping him alive.

Blake Calverley, now 21, suffered from the same heart condition as former Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba. A device was wired to his heart to prevent his heart from stopping. But the father-of-one passed away after suffering from chronic heart failure on Tuesday

He was expected to survive for around 12 months but an examination at hospital revealed his condition had worsened and he had just days left.

And the father-of-one, from Accrington, passed away at hospital after suffering from chronic heart failure on Tuesday.

Dozens of mourners gave their heartfelt goodbyes to Mr Calverley who his family said would ‘never give up no matter what’.

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His mother Dawn was devastated when she was told her son’s fight for life was about to end.

She said: ‘They took me into a room and said he has got to the end of his life and told me it would be just a few days.

‘We asked if we should bring all of the family to see him and they said yes.

‘We spent the rest of the time with him in hospital.

‘Doctors spoke to Blake, but he still did not understand. He kept saying “mum am I going to die? Please do not leave me mum”.

Dozens of mourners gave their heartfelt goodbyes to Mr Calverley who his family said would ‘never give up no matter what’ (pictured with his mother Dawn, right, and sister Sara, left)

Ms Calverley’s heartbreaking message read: ‘Don’t worry Blake, Adrian [her partner] is going to look after me Adrian loves me. I will always be there for your son, Logan. Angel [his sister] and I said good night Blake, love you for now, forever and always. Love of our lives, mum, xxx’ 

‘I miss him so much. I love him with all my heart.’

His battle against ill health hit the headlines in 2013 when he underwent one of the first operations to have a defibrillator fitted under his skin.

The device was designed to release an electrical charge if it detected a heart malfunction.

He was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2011 – and was told without the machine he would die.

At the time there was only one other person in the UK who had been fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator under their skin 

Mr Caverley described the shock as feeling he had been ‘kicked in the chest by a horse’.

But 11-months later doctors at Royal Manchester Infirmary replaced the battery operated device with a SICD defibrillator, which is much stronger. 

Another note from members of his family said: ‘Dear Blake, we love you always. God bless, you are now with the angels shining down. We will treasure your smile and your warm heart. Never forgotten’

He then spent two and a half years on the heart transplant list before deciding to take himself off it.

Because he went on to develop type one diabetes, he was deemed unfit for a donor organ. 

His heart condition also led to him developing Danon Disease which weakens muscles and means sufferers do not normally live past the age of 19.

He was fitted with a new defibrillator two months ago and spent the last weeks of his life in and out of hospital.

Doctors expected him to have around 12 months to live but a further examination revealed his heart was so enlarged he had only days left.

His tragic death has left behind his three-year-old son Logan and his sisters Sara, Becky, Cleo and Angel and brothers Rhys and Damien.

His father, Kevin, 44, said: ‘He was still fighting right to the end.

‘He had ups and downs. On the Sunday before he died he was up and out of bed having a laugh and a joke like he always would.

‘He was asleep nearly all day, but he just started struggling and could not get comfortable. His breathing just got worse and worse.’

His stepmother Donna’s funeral message read: ‘To Blake, you are the most courageous young man. I will miss your cheeky smile and amazing sense of humour. Love Donna xxx’

His sister, Sara, said: ‘Blake did not look ill and liked to do things for himself,’ she said.

‘He would say I am 21 not one. I can do what I want. We used to go everywhere together. He liked to go to the town centre and put a bet on the football.’

WHAT IS HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened.

Around one in 5,000 people have the condition, and it most commonly develops during the teenage years or young adulthood.

However, the symptoms vary depending on the severity. 

These include shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness and fainting attacks – most commonly during exercise.

It can cause the heart muscle to become stiff, which means your left ventricle doesn’t fill as easily as normal and less blood is then pumped out.

It can also partially obstruct blood flow, which can make small blood clots more likely.

Ms Calverley added: ‘He loved going to Marton Mere Caravan Park in Blackpool. We went two or three times a year and he always said he wanted to buy his own caravan there.

‘He liked the slot machines and playing bingo. He was really witty and funny. He loved his family so much and his son Logan.’

Doctors did not take any of his organs – despite him saying anything could be used if it was going to save someone’s life.  

His stepmother Donna said: ‘Everyone was so proud of him.’ He never gave up no matter what. He was so brave.’ 

When he was well enough, he loved going to watch Accrington Stanley play football and managed a trip over the summer.

He also got to see Arsenal play, made possible by the Willow Foundation, a charity which brings special days to those that are seriously ill.

The family now plans to raise money for the charity and are asking for donations to be made in his memory.

To donate to the Willow Foundation visit www.willowfoundation.org.uk.