Mum who campaigned for years on heart issues after teenage son died passes away

The mother of a 16-year-old boy who died after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing football in 2013 has passed away after years of campaigning to raise awareness around heart issues in children.

Juliet Lamin, 47, died from “natural causes” in her home in Belvedere, Bexley, on November 27.

Tributes have poured in to a website set up to arrange her funeral, describing Ms Lamin as “an inspiration” who “lived life to the full”.

In the 10 years since her son’s death, Ms Lamin dedicated her life to campaigning and fundraising for defibrillators to be installed in schools, sports centres, churches and other public spaces.

Her son, Phillip, collapsed on the pitch at Goals Soccer Centre beside his school, Bexleyheath Academy, in Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, on February 5, 2013, after scoring a goal during a five-a-side game.

The talented player had recently been signed to Fulham FC’s youth section. Ms Lamin believed that if a heart screening exercise had been conducted when Philip was scouted, she would have prevented him from taking part in sports until he received medical treatment.

She also believed that if her son’s school had a defibrillator and his classmates had been taught how to perform CPR, her son might have survived. Heart screening exercises and defibrillators in schools were not common practice at the time.

To offer support to the growing number of young people showing up at her home grieving for Philip, Ms Lamin set up the charitable organisation PL9 – the P represents Philip, the L for Lamin, and the 9 was his football jersey number.

The support group quickly became a weekly gathering of Bexley youths to discuss issues affecting their lives and community.

In 2014, PL9 organised a memorial football match at Bexleyheath Academy, raising more than £7,000 for the school to conduct two full days of cardiac screening and donate defibrillators to the Academy.

From there the group expanded and so far its fundraising efforts have raised more than £46,000 for the installation of defibrillators in various schools, youth sports centres, and churches within Bexley as well as other parts of London. 

More than 600 young people have been part of PL9 since it started and the group has now collaborated with 118 academic institutions across the country.

Ms Lamin received several honours throughout her work, including the Outstanding Achievement Award from Bexley council.

She also worked with Bexley police and Scotland Yard to improve the policing experience of black people and formed The Youth Community Impact Awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of young people making positive impacts in their communities.

Ms Lamin’s family and friends have organised a wake and vigil to remember the mother and campaigner, at Bexley Christian Life Centre, in Upland Road, Bexleyheath, on January 11, 2024.

Pictured top: Ms Lamin received several honours for her work in the community (Picture: Lennette Randall)