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Family's rare health link shocks heart-stop mum after granddad dies laughing at Goodies

Lisa Corke with her three-year-old daughter Ellie and father Alex
Lisa Corke with her three-year-old daughter Ellie and father Alex

A young mum who survived when her heart stopped for almost an hour has revealed three of her family members have been diagnosed with the same rare condition.

Lisa Corke discovered in June she had Long QT (LQT) syndrome after she suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in New Road, Minster.

Her husband Mick performed CPR and saved her life.

After her diagnosis, the 24-year-old found out the condition had also caused the death of her paternal granddad Alex Mitchell 37 years ago.

The diagnosis helped solved the mystery of why Mr Mitchell famously died while watching at The Goodies.

After doctors examined Lisa, they said he had a cardiac arrest caused by LQT.

Because the condition is hereditary, members of her family had electrocardiography tests (ECGs) and Lisa’s three-year-old daughter Ellie, dad Alex Mitchell, 54, and sister Claire Mitchell, 30, have all been diagnosed and will take beta blockers for the rest of their lives.

Mick and Lisa Corke with daughters Ellie-Mae, three, and Amelie, seven-months. Mick Corke saved the life of his wife Lisa, performing CPR after she suffered a cardiac arrest at home.
Mick and Lisa Corke with daughters Ellie-Mae, three, and Amelie, seven-months. Mick Corke saved the life of his wife Lisa, performing CPR after she suffered a cardiac arrest at home.

Lisa has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), which will shock her heart if it stops or starts to beat irregularly.

The family is raising money to buy a defibrillator to have at home in case one of them suffers a cardiac arrest.

"The chances of survival are so much more if you have a defibrillator at hand," she said.

"Finding out about Ellie was a shock. My childhood wasn't affected but this will affect hers."

Alex Mitchell, who died from laughter while watching The Goodies, with his wife Nessie
Alex Mitchell, who died from laughter while watching The Goodies, with his wife Nessie

Lisa has another daughter, nine-month-old Amelie, and although nothing showed up on her ECG, the family has been advised to treat her as though she has it as some people do not show symptoms.

Lisa's mum Tracy Mitchell, of Highview Road, Minster, said: "You are not aware of it until something happens.

"In some respects, the positive to come out of something happening to Lisa is that we can protect future generations of our family but it is still devastating to find out your three-year-old granddaughter has the same condition.

"We told Ellie that she, her mummy, granddad and aunty are special because they have got naughty hearts.

"They don't know what the chances of her having a cardiac arrest are – even though she’s on beta blockers she’s still very vulnerable."

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