Today in the news headlines read:
The Second Player to score a competitive goal at the new Wembley Stadium, Mitchell Cole, has died at the age of 27. Writes ESPNFC England
Michell Cole makes UK headlines today: “Killed by heart attack” writes Steve Myall
On Friday night Mitchell Cole Tweeted: “London tonight for the usual kickabout with the lads”
Last year Cole was quoted in interviews after his early retirement announcement: “Specialist gave me a 1% change of dropping dead and sport quadruples that risk.”
The specialist diagnosed Mitchell Cole with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), but he didn’t have an ICD (Implantable Cardiacoverter Defibrillator) that could have, possibly, saved his life.
In 2011 Mitchell Cole spoke at the HCMA (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association) to explain how he stopped playing professional sports due to his HCM diagnosis. Causing me to believe he was well informed of HCM and its risks. Maybe he didn't think a usual "kickabout with the lads" would hurt anything.
I was approached last Friday the very day Michell Cole died, by a man and father of young athletes. He said to me, “We hear you talk about “it” but it just doesn’t matter it doesn’t concern us.” How does he know “it” doesn’t concern him or anyone in his family? 1- 500 people have HCM! Is his family so special they are excluded?
As painful as that was to hear, it pains me to read headlines like Mitchell Cole dying of the same disease. It’s also agonizing to read “heart attack” when it was the perfect opportunity to inform the public about this silent killer; Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).
So I will continue to “talk” about “it” (HCM) because maybe, just maybe, it will save soneone's life.
