A family left devastated by the sudden death of their brother have thrown themselves into raising awareness of cardiac risk in young people.

Anthony Fitzgerald died aged 18 from an undetected heart condition.

The politics student seemed fit and healthy, he had played for Blackheath Rugby Club for 13 years, but passed away unexpectedly at the family home in Selwyn Crescent, Welling on November 23 this year.

His older sister Laura Fitzgerald, who lives in Kemsing Close, Bexley, said: “He had nothing at all wrong with him, even on that Wednesday.

“I was at work and he was messaging me. He helped my mum around the house and went to the gym, he was completely fine when he got back from the gym and he went up to his room.

“When my dad got home he went up and he found him. They got a neighbour to come round and help.

“He never had anything wrong with him, he never even really got colds, he was perfectly healthy, nothing wrong with him at all. You’d never know unless you got screened.”

News Shopper:

Anthony was a keen rugby player and had just started a politics degree.

The family have raised just under £10,000 through donations on JustGiving for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Laura said: “I don’t know many people who have had their heart tested, when we spoke to people no one had heard of this."

The youngest of three siblings, Anthony was close to his mum Alison, dad Noel and sisters Laura and Marie, and was a popular student at City university where he was two months into a politics degree.

Laura said: “We spent a lot of time together, we went on holiday together, we were just on holiday in July.

“He was one of my best friends. It feels so surreal. He had only been at university for a couple of months but he had already made so many friends.”

In a tribute posted on the Blackheath Rugby Club website Anthony was described as someone who 'always had a smile on his face'.

The tribute states: “He was a player that could always be relied on by the coaches and team mates to give of his best and inspire others, often receiving end of season awards and recognition.

“Anthony, known as Fitz to us all, was a pleasure to coach and manage and along with his father Noel an essential part of our rugby family.

“The Fitzgeralds are Munster men and Anthony’s rugby hero was Paul O’Connell after witnessing live in Cardiff Munster’s second Heineken Cup win.

“He was an individual who left a mark on us all, always to be found with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step.

“His passing has left the players, coaches and parents of last season’s U18s heartbroken.”

To donate to the family’s fund for CRY visit the Justgiving page.