Boy, 18, died on verge of new life in America Found in bed with beloved dogs by side
Town could have part in new national park
THE parents of a teenage boy found dead in bed after suffering a suspected epileptic seizure have told of their heartbreak.
Craig Darce, 18, died suddenly at home in Rochdale with his two beloved dogs, wolfhound cross Harold and Chihuahua Papi, by his side.
The Hopwood Hall College IT student was on the verge of emigrating to the United States to start a new life with his mum Amy, stepdad James and his six younger siblings.
Amy, 37, of Wardleworth, who also suffers from epilepsy, said James had been diagnosed with the condition aged 14.
She added: “He hated being told he couldn’t do something [because of his epilepsy].
“He used to get so frustrated. He’d be like ‘why can’t I do this? It’s not fair’.
“He wasn’t like most 18-year-old lads going out boozing all the time.
“He was a mummy’s boy really. He was a gamer. He loved his PC - that was his life.
“He was cocky and stubborn, but he was so happy.”
Craig’s childhood dream was to become a pilot, but his epilepsy diagnosis meant he had to find a new goal in life.
Electrician James, 36, who Craig called dad, said: “He hated having epilepsy, but he was adamant it wasn’t going to define him as a person.
“When he found out he couldn’t be a pilot he was so angry. We had a talk and said he’s got to concentrate on the things he can do in life, not the things he can’t. That’s when he set his sights on working with computers.
“He built his PC from scratch.
“He loved fixing problems. He just took off with it. When he got to the States he was going to design the website for my business.
“He was strong-willed and pig-headed, but what 18-year-old isn’t?
“When I wasn’t here he was the man of the house and he took that responsibility extremely seriously.
“He was always looking out for his siblings. That’s the type of person he was.”
The family applied for visas last July to move in with James, a US citizen, in Baton Rouge in Louisiana.
But the pandemic and subsequent travel ban meant the application was delayed.
Amy said on the morning of his death on Sunday, August 29, Craig, a former Whitworth High School pupil, had a seizure in bed.
She went to check he was OK before he fell back to sleep.
Around three hours later at about 1pm she went back in his bedroom to check on him again and found he was unconscious.
Paramedics were called but tragically Craig was pronounced dead.
It’s thought he may have had a second seizure shortly after the first.
Amy says the family now want to help raise awareness of sudden unexpected death with epilepsy, which is known as SUDEP.
Around one in every 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP every year.
No one is sure what causes SUDEP, and it may differ from case to case, but some researchers believe that a seizure causes an irregular heart rhythm, while other research has shown that breathing difficulties following a seizure lead to death.
Amy said: “We just took epilepsy for granted as something that was in the family.
“We knew there was a risk of death, but it’s so small, you just think it’s never going to happen to you.
“We just want more people to be aware of it, so they’re not in the position we’re in.
“I hate epilepsy right now, I really do.”
A crowdfunding appeal has been set up to help pay for Craig’s funeral costs.
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AN alternative National Park which covers parts of Rochdale has been launched.
South Pennines Park, which will cover 460 square miles, includes parts of Rochdale, as well as parts of Rossendale, Bury, Bolton and Yorkshire was launched on September 10.
It aims to ensure residents and visitors enjoy the natural resources of the only upland in England that is not a designated National Park or Area of
Outstanding Beauty.
Parts of Rochdale included in the new park include Whitworth, Littleborough, Milnrow and Newhey.
First discussed in the 1940s, the new model is being established by Pennine Prospects, who are working in partnership with local authorities in the park area, as well as Natural England, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, the National Trust, transport providers and other communities and conservation groups.
Chief executive of Pennine Prospects, Helen Noble, said: “The need for a park was absolutely clear because the South Pennines Park region needs a champion at national level to fight for it, protect it and seek sustainable investment.
“Over 8 million people live within 30 minutes of the park and more than 660,000 live in it -- twice the population of all the
English National Park put together.
“It is an area of stunning scenery; a spectacular ever-evolving landscape that has been moulded and shaped by the people, the packhorses, footsteps of yesteryear; rich in industrial and cultural heritage.”
Helen added that establishing the park will ensure support for cross boundary working on key projects, like flood protection, tourism, transport, heritage and conservation.
She said: “This is an exciting, bold forwardthinking vision for one of the UK’S most diverse and unique regions.
“We’re excited to be taking an inclusive approach to making the South Pennines Park work for the people who live, work and visit it.
“It will unlock the resources needed to ensure residents and visitors enjoy the positive benefits of being closer to nature.”
The South Pennines Park is situated between Greater Manchester, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, and West Yorkshire, and covers 460 sq miles.
The move to establish the new support structure for the South Pennines Park follows on from the Governmentcommissioned Glover Review into the future of the nation’s designated landscapes.
Helen added: “To get to this stage we have brought together communities, public and private sector bodies and other stakeholders.
“Together we have a shared vision for the Park and we are all committed to working together to champion the area.
“Without the Park, each body is left to compete for funding.
“This approach means they can pool resources and drive collaboration in key areas like conservation, tourism, transport and hospitality.
“But a common thread for all our partners is ensuring we connect people to nature.”