A couple from Orpington who lost their beloved son to a rare condition have been tirelessly campaigning in his memory.

Matthew Beadle was just 32 when he died from Sudden Arrythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) - when an otherwise healthy young person dies unexpectedly from a rare heart condition.

Mr Beadle was holidaying in Orange County, America, three years ago when he went to have a lie down, but never woke up again.

A professional dancer, he was starring in the Starlight Express in Germany at the time of his death.

His parents Tony and Lynne Beadle, 66 and 63, have been raising awareness of the condition and charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

His mother told News Shopper: “We didn’t know anything about it until Matthew died, we didn’t know anything until it was too late.

“He was active, he was a dancer. He looked after himself.

“If he had been checked, he would be alive today.”

MORE TOP STORIES Their bank branch, Nationwide along Orpington High Street, has a collection in store for CRY.

Running until the end of December, CRY and two other selected charities will each £100, but the one with the most nominations will receive a further £500.

Manager Marie De Rozarieux put the family and the charity forward, and Mrs Beadle explained they have supported them since the beginning.

She said: “We couldn’t get his travel insurance as it was on his phone.

“They sent the forms three weeks later. We were in pieces thinking how are we going to get him home.

“They covered the cost of bringing him home.”

News Shopper:

Matthew Beadle

The couple from Dawson Avenue, who are both retired, are urging young people to get themselves screened to see if they have any cardiac abnormalities.

The family, including their daughter Joanne, all got checked after their son’s death, but they were all healthy.

Mrs Beadle added: “We want to make everyone aware, if we save one child’s life and help that parent not go through what we went through. It's important. 

“It’s been three years and we’re only just starting to feel that we’re coming out of it.

“We miss him every day. It shouldn’t have happened to him, he had his whole life ahead of him, he had plans for his future.

“It’s such a waste of life.”

To nominate a charity visit the branch in-store, for more information on CRY visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk/