A COUPLE from a Somerset village whose teenage son died in 2007 have been honoured for their charity work.

Rachel and Stephen Midcalf, from Shipham, have raised thousands of pounds to supply defibrillators to schools and organisations after Tom suffered Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) at the age of 15.

He died from an unknown cardiac condition which caused his heart to go into an abnormal rhythm.

A defibrillator is the only piece of equipment that will restore the heart rhythm, and his parents have worked tirelessly to ensure people have access to the lifesaving kit.

The couple travelled to London to the National Lifesaver Defibrillator Awards on October 23 where they were honoured for their work by charity SADS UK.

They said: “We are very honoured to receive this award and are enormously grateful to friends, family and supporters who have donated so generously in Tom’s memory to provide these defibrillators.

“Being able to supply potentially life saving equipment to local communities seems to us to be a fitting tribute to our beautiful son, and we will to continue to support SADS UK by fundraising in his name.”