Asthma campaigner on Late Late Show

A GOREY father appeared on the Late Late Show last Friday night to highlight that asthma can kill.

Michael Martin from Grattan Court in Gorey whose son Chris died from an asthma attack is fronting a television and social media campaign highlighting that asthma kills one person a week in Ireland.

Michael’s son Chris was a fit and healthy 19-year-old who played rugby for University College Cork.

In the ad Michael said: ‘I never thought asthma would kill Chris. I never thought it would kill anyone to be honest’.

Chris dropped dead at 6am on December 27, 2015, after waking up gasping for breath.

Michael said: ‘He was diagnosed when he was a child, at 4 or 5 years old. Sometimes playing rugby or playing soccer, he’d need the inhaler. He took a few puffs and he was grand. He was never hospitalized.

‘Asthma never prevented Chris from doing anything. He done rugby, he done soccer, he done surfing. You name the sport he tried it. He tried mountaineering, he tried everything. He went to Africa. He was up in trees in Africa and it still it never stopped him. He lived until 19, but men of 90 won’t live as full a life as Chris lived.

‘Chris always carried his reliever inhaler and would use it while playing rugby. However, he would often forget to take his preventative medication. He might take it on a Monday or a Tuesday but then forget to take it on a Wednesday or Thursday. It wouldn’t be until he got a bit chesty that he would remember to take it again. He didn’t realise his asthma wasn’t under control as a result and that he was at risk of a serious attack.’

‘On Christmas day we were all sitting here and Chris was lying in front of the fire. There wasn’t a bother on him, absolutely not a worry in the world. He was enjoying his Christmas. He went out Stephen’s day, met his friends and had a laugh. He went out Stephen’s night, had a few drinks, came home, had the craic with Tommy and went to bed.

‘He woke up the next morning at 6 o’clock with an attack and just couldn’t breathe. Next thing the inhalers didn’t work so we decided to bring him down to Call Doc to see if he could get the nebulizer. But as he was putting on his stockings he just keeled over and that was it.

‘In a million years I never thought asthma would kill him. I never thought asthma would kill anyone actually being honest with you.’

‘Unfortunately, Michael’s story is not unique’, said Averil Power, CEO of the Asthma Society. ‘We have been contacted by the families of other young people who died of asthma in the past eighteen months, aged seven, sixteen, nineteen and twenty-one. Most were fit and active young people who had no idea they were at risk of dying of an asthma attack.

‘People don’t realise asthma can be fatal if not properly managed. One person dies every week in Ireland of an asthma attack. There is a popular misconception that only those with severe asthma are at risk.

‘This is not the case. In fact, a 2014 study of asthma deaths in the UK found the majority of those who died had mild or moderate asthma and that under-use of preventer inhalers was a major factor.

‘It is very important everyone with asthma realises their condition can potentially be serious and takes their preventative medicine as prescribed, even when they are feeling well. They also need to know that taking your reliever inhaler more than twice a week is a sign your asthma is not properly controlled and that you should talk to your GP.

‘With proper care and treatment, most asthma deaths can be prevented’, she said.

The Asthma Society has set up a special fundraising appeal in memory of Chris Martin. Michael is asking people to support it by texting CHRIS to 50300 to donate €4. ‘With your support, the Asthma Society will help other young people like Chris manage their asthma better and spare other families the pain of losing a child to asthma,’ he said.