Holiday drinking triggered fatal condition

Darren Morgan had been on holiday in Majorca with friends

A 19-year-old man from south Wales died from a rare heart condition, which was triggered by drinking alcohol, said his father.

Darren Morgan, from Tonypandy, Rhondda, had returned from a holiday in Majorca, where he had been on holiday with friends.

His father said the teenager had stopped drinking two days before flying home, but collapsed and later died in hospital on 16 August, last year.

It was then discovered that Darren had been living with a rare and unknown heart condition, which had turned out to be fatal when he had drunk heavily, said his father Philip Morgan.

He said he had been enjoying his holiday, drinking and having fun like you are supposed to

Philip Morgan, Darren's father

"Darren took a break off from work last summer so he could go on holiday with some friends.

"He came home and said he wasn't feeling well and had stopped drinking and eating on the last few days of his holiday.

"We took him to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and he died the following week.

"He said he had been enjoying his holiday, drinking and having fun like you are supposed to.

"He did not know he had a heart condition."

An inquest last week at Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard how the 19-year-old factory worker had an enlarged heart and lung damage and there were no signs of drugs.

Coroner Phillip Walters recorded a verdict of death by misadventure after hearing the teenager did not know he had a rare heart disease which could prove fatal with alcohol.