FREE heart screenings were carried out on 200 people as part of a special event at the Ageas Bowl.

Hampshire Cricket Foundation, Hampshire Cricket's new charity arm, teamed up with cardiac experts from Caridac Risk in the Young (CRY) for the initiative, which aims to help prevent cardiac death in young people.

Eastleigh MP Paul Holmes, pictured, was among those tested.

One in every 300 young people that undertake these tests with CRY are identified as having a potentially life-threatening condition and the programme has already achieved great success, led by Consultant Professor, Sanjay Sharma.

The screenings were funded by the Hampshire Cricket Foundation as part of the charity’s ‘Changing Lives. Saving Lives’ project, which aims to deliver a healthier future for people across the county.

Stuart Robertson, Hampshire Cricket Foundation Director said: “We are delighted to support CRY’s cardiac screening programme and I would like to thank the many generous donors to the Hampshire Cricket Foundation, especially those from our annual Ladies Lashes Lunch that have enabled us to do this.”

Dr Steven Cox, Chief Executive of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), added: “It is a great honour to be associated with the new ‘Changing Lives. Saving Lives’ initiative spearheaded by Hampshire Cricket Foundation. The campaign shares the same ethos as CRY and we were delighted to bring our team of experts to the Ageas Bow. Every week in the UK, around 12 young people under the age of 35 die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition. 80 per cent of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms. However, we know that cardiac screening saves lives and in Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in organised sport, they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by a staggering 89 per cent.

The Hampshire Cricket Foundation, previously known as Hampshire Cricket in the Community, relaunched in December.