THE family of a former carnival queen who died suddenly at the age of just 18 have donated lifesaving equipment to a popular football club.

Rachael Kiely-Cohen’s parents Diane Kiely and Maxine Cohen have been working closely with cardiac charity Sads UK since she passed away on Mothers’ Day 2014.

Her loved ones gathered at Pizza Hut, at Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park, where Rachael worked, earlier this year to release balloons with personalised messages into the sky and raise money.

The donations have been used to buy a defribillator for the Basildon Boys and Girls’ Club, based at Whites Farm, in Barleylands Road, Billericay.

Diane and Maxine attended a training session at Whitmore Way Primary School, in Whitmore Way, Basildon, where coaches from the club were shown how to use the equipment, which restores heart rhythm if someone goes into cardiac arrest.

Anne Jolly, founder of Sads UK, said: "Diane and Maxine have raised a lot of awareness in their community, letting people know that cardiac arrest can affect all ages.

“Through their generosity, their local community has benefited from having a defibrillator, along with vital lifesaving training.

“Last year, Sads UK patron Dr Hilary Jones presented Lifesaver Awards to staff at two senior schools, who had saved the lives of teenage boys using their school defibrillator.

“This demonstrates how important it is to have this lifesaving equipment on school premises.

“Using CPR alone provides a 5 per cent chance of survival, but using the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50 per cent.

This is why Sads UK and its members are so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in place.”

Rachael, of Brecon Close, Pitsea, was studying for a childcare qualification at South Essex College, in Luker Road, Southend.

She collpased suddenly and died after returning home from work at 1am on Sunday, March 30, last year, Rachael was selected as a princess for Basildon and Pitsea Carnival for two years running, aged 13 and 14.

The Department for Education is now advising schools on the importance of having defibrillators on the premises following the Sads UK Big Shock Campaign.