Young Uckfield man releases song in memory of 22-year-old brother

Ryan Keane was tragically found dead in his bed by his family on Father’s Day last year.

The 22-year-old had complained of feeling fatigued and dizzy the day before but had started to show signs of improvement before going to sleep.

However, on the morning of June 21, his mum went to check on him and he was tragically found not breathing.

His cause of his death was confirmed as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) – a genetic heart condition that can cause sudden death in young, apparently healthy, people.

“We didn’t know anything was wrong – it was unexpected,” said his brother, Tom, 26.

“He was feeling fatigued which was strange as he had just been kicking a ball around and having a laugh with his friends.

“I could tell something wasn’t right – it didn’t seem like your normal, average exhaustion.

“He said to leave it and see how he was and the next couple of hours he started improving.

“He had his fan on and he was sitting up in bed on his phone and later that evening he was seemingly normal.

“I told my parents to keep an eye on him too and they didn’t notice anything out of character either

“Our minds were put at ease.”

Tom said his brother Ryan was fit and healthy. He worked in a warehouse and was shelf stacking at Waitrose.

“If it had not been in the middle of the night, we may have been able to do CPR or get a defibrillator to save him,” added Tom.

“The message we want to get out there to football clubs and rugby clubs is to have a defibrillator nearby as it really can save lives.”

He described his brother Ryan as ‘cheeky, a bit loud and a very interesting character’.

He added: “You were never bored if you were with him – he always had something funny to say. He was a positive influence. He had a lot of friends who have been really supportive and are of course devastated.”

Tom, who works for an insurance company, said he and Ryan were similar and shared the same interests – including music.

The pair were producing a song before Ryan died, which Tom has since released in his brother’s memory.

The track, Don’t Worry by Jordi Rivera and Thomas Ensom, can now be bought on itunes and Spotify. And any proceeds Tom makes will be donated to the charity, You Raise Me Up, which offers financial, practical and emotional support to families that have lost a young adult.

“The charity has been fantastic for my mum,” said Tom.

“She has made some good friends and has had a lot of support. They have a coffee shop in Polegate and before lockdown you could just turn up there.”

Tom said his brother Ryan had a number of unfinished products, like this song, and he is determined to finish them for him.

“I still think about him daily but doing this gives me motivation,” he added.

“I am doing it for the both of us – it doesn’t feel like a chore.”

Tom has also set up a gofundme fundraising page to raise money for You Raise Me Up charity. To make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/f/toms-fundraiser-for-you-raise-me-up.

To listen to to the brothers’ song, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbRLTSZN8ks&ab_channel=LoudKult.