Weak heart killed biker (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Weak heart killed biker

A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD rising motorcross star died from a heart condition. Martyn Luckett died at his sister's flat in Belle Vue Road in Old Town after emergency services were called to the flat on July 11 but were unable to save him.

Yesterday Wiltshire coroner David Masters recorded a verdict of natural causes.

The inquest heard that, unusually, he had gone for a one-and-a-half mile run two days earlier.

The next day he complained about heart palpitations.

He had played crazy golf at Coate Water and then gone home to sleep.

He called the NHS Direct Helpline complaining that he felt dizzy and had been advised to rest.

Later that evening he was heard coughing and then found on his back in the living room of the flat.

The inquest heard a report by a specialist cardiovascular pathologist, concluding that Martyn's death was caused by an inflammation of the heart muscle, known as lymphocytic myocarditis, which can trigger sudden death.

The cause of the inflamma-tion was not known.

Martyn, who worked for an agency in Swindon, could often be seen around Old Town skateboarding with his sister Charlotte's dog.

He was a rising star in the world of motorcross, having represented the South West on several occasions and taken part in national competitions.

His funeral took place in Devon, which was his home and 450 people turned up for the service.

At the funeral donations were taken for the British Heart Foundation.

Speaking shortly after her brother's death Charlotte told the Advertiser: "Martyn's passing away has been a real shock to us all.

"He will be missed dread-fully."

David Andrew