THE IRISH PEOPLE
25 NOVEMBER 2012
Spurs lad sues over heart hell
Exclusive
By Keir Murdie
A spurs youth team striker who suffered brain damage following a cardiac arrest on the pitch has launched a multimillion pound damages claim.
Radwan Hamed, 17, was just nine days into his playing career when he suffered a Fabrice Muamba-style heart attack as Tottenham’s youth team played in Belgium in 2006.
Ex-Bolton midfielder Muamba has recovered well since collapsing during an FA Cup tie in March.
But Radwan’s injuries have brought his fledgeling career to an end, and he is suing the club and a heart doctor for a lifetime’s loss of earnings and care costs.
His lawyers say club officials failed to ensure there was a pitch-side defibrillator, leading to a 16-minute delay in treatment.
A writ submitted to London’s High Court also claims the cardiologist and the club failed to heed warning signs he was at risk of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy- a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.
Radwan was screened in 2005 under FA rules. The doctor found some of the results “grossly abnormal” but told Spurs “it would be reasonable for him to continue to train”, lawyers claim, though he suggested an annual review.