A tragic incident has left a mother devastated after her son collapsed at a friend’s house and never regained consciousness. Luke Anning, a 19-year-old described as a ‘joker’, had been enjoying Christmas celebrations with family and friends before spending a relaxed evening at a friend’s place. Luke, who had asthma but generally had it under control, suddenly fell ill. He returned home to fetch his inhaler due to chest tightness, reassuring his mum that he was fine. However, just hours later, Luke’s friend phoned his mother to say that Luke had suffered an asthma attack and collapsed, resulting in a cardiac arrest.
Luke was rushed to the hospital, but despite efforts to provide oxygen to his brain, he was declared brain dead after 16 minutes without oxygen. Tragically, Luke passed away on January 4, 2019. His mother, Sam Phillips, made the decision to donate Luke’s organs, including his kidneys, pancreas, and liver. One person’s life was saved by receiving Luke’s liver, bringing some solace to his grieving family.
Sam Phillips is now sharing Luke’s story to raise awareness about the dangers of asthma, referring to it as a “silent killer”. Despite Luke’s asthma improving over the years, his allergies and the severity of the attack came as a shock to his family. Sam described Luke as a vibrant individual who loved makeup and had a great sense of humour. His sudden passing left behind his siblings, Molly and Jaiden, who were deeply affected by the loss of their brother.
Sam is determined to keep Luke’s memory alive and raise awareness about asthma by participating in the Cardiff Half Marathon with her daughter and some of Luke’s friends. They aim to raise funds for Asthma + Lung UK, a charity supporting research into lung conditions and treatments. Sam hopes that by sharing Luke’s story, other families can be spared from the devastation of losing a loved one to asthma.
The heartbreaking loss of Luke has highlighted the importance of taking asthma seriously and ensuring regular check-ups and proper inhaler usage. Sam wants to prevent other families from experiencing the same tragedy as hers and hopes that increased awareness can save lives. Luke’s memory lives on through the lives he has touched and the difference he continues to make, even in his absence.