LOVED ones of Aiden Hoenigmann are determined that no other family should endure the heartbreak they faced when their “incredible son, partner, brother, friend, team-mate and daddy” died aged just 27.
His death came as a huge shock to everyone who knew him: Aiden was a talented sportsman and there had never been any indication that something was wrong.
An irregular heartbeat one morning in January 2024 starved his brain of oxygen and, despite CPR performed by his partner Sarah and paramedics, he was placed in an induced coma and did not recover.
He had recently learned that Sarah was pregnant with his second child and Aiden did not get the chance to hold his daughter Olivia, now two.
In what now offers a small source of comfort to the family he has left behind, Aiden's organs were donated and saved six lives, for which he was recognised with the Order of St John UK Award.
The cause of his sudden death was unknown for more than two years.
Following genetic testing, it is now suspected that he most likely had Brugada syndrome, a rare inherited heart rhythm disorder.
Mum Fiona described the situation as “harrowing” since losing her son to a condition that, if identified, might not have taken his life.
She told the Courier: “He would have lived a perfectly normal life, our families would not have had to go through what we have had to and what we will go through, for the rest of our lives.”
Aiden’s family – including his two children, sister, two brothers and his parents – have been followed up with genetic testing and one of his siblings has tested positive for the syndrome.
Having the condition means that they are susceptible to a similar sudden cardiac event; however, awareness and a diagnoses that Aiden did not have means they will be checked up on by doctors and may have a monitor fitted in the future.
Former Sanderson’s Wynd Primary School and Ross High School pupil Aiden worked as a business analyst for Royal Bank of Scotland, was captain of Ross High RFC and also a player with Tranent and Preston Village Cricket Club.
Since his death, Aiden’s family have raised money for the British Heart Foundation and, following the charity teaming up with Edinburgh Rugby, Oskar acted as mascot at a match earlier this year.
Fiona decided that, while research was always going to be crucial, she wanted to change lives at a local level and prevent other families in East Lothian experiencing the same loss.
She has set up Aiden’s Heartbeat Memorial Fund in partnership with charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), which will bring free screening sessions to the county for young people.
It also coincides with what would have been Aiden's 30th birthday this year.
The hope is to prevent other lives being lost to sudden cardiac death, with plans to screen his team-mates at the rugby club, young people in Tranent, the town he lived in his whole life, and throughout East Lothian, with the money specifically ringfenced for the county.
CRY’s research shows that one in 300 young people tested by their screening programme are identified with a potentially life-threatening condition - lives which could be saved.
About 80 per cent of young sudden cardiac deaths occur with no prior symptoms.
A further one in 100 people will be identified with a cardiac condition which will require monitoring and could cause problems in later life.
Each screening weekend costs in the region of £14,000 and, despite the cost, Aiden’s family are determined to do everything they can.
Scott Russell, stepdad, said: “If it can save just one life – just one – one will make it worth it.
“It’s five minutes and can save your life.”
A screening team travels from London and will only do so throughout the summer months, so Fiona’s hope is to eventually create a charity in Aiden’s name to try and bring together a team based in Scotland.
Drawing on her background in nursing, she would also like to have CPR taught to as many people as possible.
Fiona said: “The more we can raise, the more events we can arrange and the more lives we save.
“In an ideal world, we can arrange screening around the region, enabling all young people in East Lothian to have this opportunity.”
They also plan to seek support from local businesses and the community to help with the mission.
The first fundraising event will be Aiden’s Memorial Golf Day on July 31 at Royal Musselburgh Golf Club in Prestonpans, followed by an evening of entertainment and a silent auction at Ross High Rugby Club.
Entry is £260 per team of four and the game will be held in a Texas Scramble format.
To enter, go to rosshighrfc.sumupstore.com/category/club-events
Also on the calendar is the Scottish Half Marathon in September, which will see 20 of Aiden’s team-mates, including president Chris Tinlin, take on the challenge for the cause.
In November, Fiona’s friend Angela Brunton will cycle 350km across the country in five days, then take part in a Lapland husky training exhibition in March next year.
Next May, Fiona and Angela will be joined by two more friends to walk the West Highland Way in five days, while Oskar has one or two ideas of his own bubbling to honour his dad.
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