THE British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging Cornish people to support a new fund to improve genetic testing for families at risk of the undiagnosed heart condition that killed Sir David Frost’s eldest son last year.

The heart charity estimates 11,000 people in the South West are living with the faulty gene that can cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which led to Miles Frost’s sudden death at the age of just 31.

The majority of these people are undiagnosed and will have no symptoms. Although some people will live their lives unaffected, tragically, for some it can lead to a fatal cardiac arrest at a young age, often without warning.

The family believe that Miles inherited the faulty gene responsible for the condition from Sir David Frost. Although Sir David didn’t die of HCM, his post mortem found the disease was present. Unfortunately, Miles and his brothers Wilf and George were not tested for HCM at the time.

Earlier this week the Frost family, in partnership with the BHF, launched a charitable fund in memory of Miles Frost. The family hopes the Miles Frost Fund will stop more families going through the pain of losing a loved one to undiagnosed heart conditions, which kill 12 people aged 35 and under in the UK each week.

To find out more about the Miles Frost Fund or to make a donation to support the rollout of genetic testing for HCM, visit www.milesfrostfund.com