A TEENAGER who died while taking part in a basketball match was remembered at a ceremony to hand over one of the latest public access automated external defibrillator (AED) at a village site.

The Katie's Heart Appeal has raised funds and installed many defibrillators across Thurrock.

The latest is at Horndon on the Hill Cricket Club where it honours the memory of Alexis Phillips-Martin.

Alexis suffered a cardiac arrest playing basketball with friends at Horndon Park when he was 18-years-old, 18 years ago.

A memorial bench dedicated to Alexis remains at the park close to the basketball park.

It was later discovered he had an undiagnosed arrhythmia. Jessica, who attended the presentation, is his twin sister and is also a Brompton patient too and has been since she was little.

A public access AED is also in place at Horndon on the Hill Primary School.

About Katie's Heart Appeal

Katie's Heart Appeal was formed after Katie Davies was rushed to A&E by ambulance at Christmas 2012. She was in an irregular dangerously high heart rhythm again, and even though we had been in this situation so many times, it was, and is still a very traumatic experience.

Mum Charlotte explains what followed, saying: "Katie was admitted for 24/7 monitoring for fivedays under the guidance of her cardiologist at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Her heart just could not stay in a regular rhythm despite her medication and emergency treatment.

"One morning on the ward round Katie asked the consultant "why do I have to go to A&E every time, why can't I just come straight to the children's ward"

"The consultant replied "Because that's where all the life saving medication is, and where we keep the defibrillators". Katie said "well then you should have defibrillators everywhere"

"The consultant agreed and said to Katie "yes you are right".

"Once Katie was out of danger and we were allowed to return home. I started looking to see if there were any public access defibrillators local to us. No, not one that I could find. I contacted the Arrhythmia Alliance and AED Locator and was informed not only were there no Public Access Defibrillators in Stanford, there were none in Thurrock.

"That is when our mission started! Look at the knock on effect its had on the community. It is amazing, but we still need more.

"I would like to say a massive thank you to every single one of you who have helped us over the years, and especially our Team Katie Guardians who not only helped to fundraise for defibrillators, but still continue to help with checking and maintaining all the defibrillators in service.

"I would also like to say a massive thank you to London Hearts for supporting us and enabling us a donation grant on each defibrillator so we can buy more and more with donations and fundraising."

Following the presentation at Horndon, Charlotte added: "We are so grateful to Ryan Cutts for all his help. Thank you so much to Paul Wells for installing the cabinet. Thanks to Jessica Phillips-Martin for supporting us as always and thank you Kay Cowcher and the residents of Stanford Park residents for your amazing fundraising for Katie's Heart Appeal."