Benji’s tragic death was ‘natural’


A HEALTHY, fun-loving lad died when his heart sud- denly stopped beating, a Maidstone inquest heard. Benjamin Robert Percival (seven) – known to family and friends as Benji – collapsed in the playground at Loose Jun- ior School, in December 2010. The school’s first aider, a doctor and, later, ambulance paramedics battled for an hour and 19 minutes to revive him, but Benji, from Copper Tree Court, Loose, never re- covered.


Cardiovascular consultant DrMary Shep- pard, from the Royal Brompton and Hare-


Garage to holiday


let application A PLAN has been submitted to replace a garage with a single- storey holiday let on land next to Highlands, Chartway Street, East Sutton. According to applicants Mr Anthony and Mrs Marianne Hale’s supporting statement: “The current premises are now outdated, have fallen into dis- repair and are in need of mod- ernisation. “The proposed new brick-


built property will have a pitched roof, hard paving to the perimeter with a gravel en- trance drive and parking for three vehicles utilising its own entrance from a private road.” Maidstone Council will de- cide on the application.


field Hospitals, told the in- quest that microscopic exami- nation of Benji’s heart revealed there was nothing wrong with it. Dr Sheppard said: “We are increasingly finding people dying from this condition


which, in an adult, is known as Sudden Adult Death – but clearly Benji was not an adult.” Fewer than 800 people die from the con-


dition each year, said Dr Sheppard – the majority being young men aged between 18 and 25, although youngsters aged 12 to 14 were also susceptible.


“The tragedy is that it can happen to very


fit and healthy people,which is why it is so traumatic for the families,” she said. In recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Coroner Patricia Harding said: “Al- though this is a tragic death, it is a natural one.” Dr Sheppard said little was known about


the condition 20 years ago and more expe- rience was being gained all the time. She said that even with a swift first aid re- sponse, as had been the case here, victims never recovered. “The heart stops and can never be re- started. Tragically, nothing could have pre- vented it,” she said.


Uproar over village housing plan RESIDENTS in East Farleigh are at loggerheads over controversial plans to build more housing in the village. The parish council owns a parcel of land at the junction of Lower


Road and Vicarage Lane, which was earmarked for housing and a village green in the village plan. However, a suggestion that six houses be built to help fund im- provements elsewhere in the village has caused uproar among some residents who want to see the village left unchanged. The village plan was drawn up following consultation with local residents in 2009 and a questionnaire was recently sent out to all householders seeking an update on their views. A feasibility study into various aspects of the plan was put on


hold after angry residents turned up at a meeting of the parish council demanding that villagers be first allowed to have their say. Residents will be able to give their views on the scheme when a public meeting is held at the village school on March 7 at 7.30pm. The action group will also seek views on commissioning a feasi-


bility study aimed at resolving parking and traffic-flow problems in Vicarage Lane, Forge Lane and Lower Road; preventing more damage by HGVs to East Farleigh Bridge and making better use of the recreation ground next to the school or establishing a new vil- lage green or orchard.


In a statement issued at the


end of the inquest, Benji’s fam- ily said: “He was a beautiful seven-year-old boy. He was fun, loving and carefree, chatty, en- ergetic, fun to be with and as bright as a button. “He made you feel happy and


he had such an infectious laugh. He was also kind, thoughtful and loving.” Benji had a passion for foot-


ball and played for the U8s South Park Colts and also en- joyed playing the guitar. “Someone once compared


Benji to a firework – so full of energy, so bright and beautiful. “We would never have be-


lieved that this could happen to our seemingly healthy child. Our lives have been devastated and will never be the same again.”


To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330


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