An "adored" and "beloved" man died suddenly after collapsing at home.
Spencer James Haizel, who was living in Aigburth, died on January 28 from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome. According to the British Heart Foundation this is when someone dies suddenly and unexpectedly from a cardiac arrest, but the cause of the cardiac arrest cannot be found.
The 31-year-old's mum, Karen Smith, said her son was a "healthy, fit, young man" and had no prior medical conditions. On the day Spencer died they had visited his favourite restaurant Albert's Schenke on Hanover Street, Liverpool city centre, and walked round the shops "arm in arm" chatting "like they always did".
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Karen, who lives in Kensington, said by 8pm that night Spencer had died, despite the best efforts of hospital staff. The 55-year-old is now working with the Oliver King Foundation to raise funds for much needed defibrillators around Liverpool.
Karen said they have already raised £1,000 in Spencer's honour at his funeral for the charity and have donated a defibrillator which will be fitted at The Bridewell pub on Campbell Square, with a plaque and photo of the 31-year-old.
Paying tribute to her son, Karen said: "He was a beloved son to myself. I cherish him every minute of every day. He was a fiancé to Chloe and he was loved by all of his friends.
"He also had a cat called Luna and he loved her, he absolutely adored her. I am so proud of what he achieved in his 31 years. We came to Liverpool 15 years ago from London, just me and him and he's done so well.
"He graduated from university for computer science and in between uni he went to Camp America in New York for 16 weeks which he absolutely loved. Before he passed away he was a freelance web developer. I am just so proud of him. He was very kind and caring."
Karen added: "He loved gaming, photography and was a bit of a wine connoisseur. Spencer loved travelling and cooking. He was just an adored young man, he really, really was.
"I am the proudest mum in the world and I miss him so much. We were very close and we had a close bond because it was just me and him."
Karen has also set up a petition asking for the government to fund yearly heart screenings for all young people under 35 so they are able to be checked for any abnormalities, arrhythmia or unknown genetic problems. The 55-year-old wants to do this and raise money for the Oliver King Foundation to carry on Spencer's legacy.
She said: "I am just trying to do as much as I can, as much as I physically can in his legacy to make people aware and raise funds for defibrillators. That's why I am doing the petition, Spencer has passed away from it, but if he had brothers they would be tested for it.
"But why should it take someone to pass away to for it to be tested? These tests need to be available for anyone under 35 because Spencer was healthy, he was a healthy, fit, young man."
Karen added: "Everything I do, I do for you Spencer."
Writing on the petition page, Karen said: "My son Spencer aged 31 sadly passed away suddenly from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome on January 2022. Spencer had no underlying health conditions and was a healthy young man.
"Every week around 12 under 35s die as a result of a previously undiagnosed heart condition. This can't keep happening, these otherwise healthy young people are our future and the devastating loss on families/friends is tragic and so painful, something must be done."
To donate to the GoFundMe page, please click here.
To sign the petition, please click here.
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