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Wakefield Wildcats player who died on pitch had rare heart condition
A talented Leeds rugby league player who collapsed and died during a match unknowingly suffered from a rare heart condition, an inquest has heard.
Leon Walker, 20, from Morley, was born with a symptomless heart defect and could have died at any time.
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The Wakefield Trinity Wildcats forward collapsed towards the end of a match against the Celtic Crusaders in Maesteg, Bridgend, south Wales.
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The tragedy happened during a Super League game on March 22 when Mr Walker was involved in a tackle with two opposing players.
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A match doctor made strenuous efforts to revive him at the scene before he was airlifted to hospital, in Swansea, where he was pronounced dead.
Bridgend coroner Peter Madox, sitting in Aberdare, recorded a verdict of natural causes at the conclusion of an inquest into the death.
Previously he had heard that a post-mortem examination had found abnormalities to Mr Walker's coronary arteries.
Due to the symptomless nature of the condition it had never been
detected during routine medicals and had remained undiagnosed.
The rising rugby league player had signed for Wakefield in November
2008, less than six months before tragedy struck. Prior to the move he had spent three years at Salford City Reds where he earned representative honours with Yorkshire and England in 2007.
A Wakefield Trinity Wildcats spokesman said: "This has been a very difficult time for Leon's family and the club.
"Hopefully, the outcome of the inquest will enable us to treasure his memory and to move on."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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