SADS is a condition linked to abnormal heart rhythms.
The Dillon Quirke Foundation has been continuing their campaign of free screenings across Ireland.
Last week, 45 young adults benefited from early detection screening for Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) at Monasterevin GFC.
The screening event, hosted by Knit & Natter Group and Mercy Convent in conjunction with the Dillon Quirke Foundation, screened a group of young people for the condition which has been known to affect healthy, active people.
SADS is a condition linked to abnormal heart rhythms.
It was highlighted earlier this week as 15-year-old Ireland's Fittest Family Contestant Cillian Flaherty, who passed away in October 2024, was later found to have died from SADS.
The Dillon Quirke Foundation was named after a young hurler from Tipperary who tragically passed away in 2022 during a club match from SADS
It prompted his family to establish a foundation to raise awareness and promote cardiac screening.
Speaking on Kildare Today, Dan Quirke, Dillons father explained what happened on the day of Dillon's death.
"17 minutes into the game Dillon called to his county teammate who he was marking and he said 'I'm in trouble', he called the referee and when Craig turned around, Dillon fell into his arms.
Despite the good work of the local responders, they worked on Dylan for 45 minutes in Semple Stadium and for another hour down in South Tipperary Hospital in Clonmel, unfortunately, we were unable to bring him back."
Dan also said that he didn't know much about SADS before Dillon's death.
"Soon after we found out it was SADS, that we were unaware of at the time. And unfortunately, there's a lack of awareness about SADS in the country."
"To date, we've screened over nearly 25,000 young adolescents across in every county in Ireland, and we've saved many, many lives.
He highlighted the importance of heart screening as a means of prevention for underlying heart conditions, outlining that 90% of issues can be found through screening.
Moving to the future, as the Dillon Quirke Foundation continues it's work, Dan paid tribute to the people who support them:
"Some of the emails, letters and phone calls we get from families about the lives we've saved really drives us on."
Our ambition is in the coming years to get 50,000 plus screenings done per year. And I think that would be a huge success."
The full interview can be heard below:
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