A “KEEN” basketball player who died after collapsing mid-game earlier this year had an underlying heart condition, an inquest has heard.
Guillaume Pierre Hoareau – who was known as G to his teammates – died at the age of 40 on 18 May.
The inquest heard that Mr Hoareau had said he intended to stop playing competitively after the game between Jersey and Guernsey at which he collapsed.
In a statement read out at the hearing, a fellow player described how after Mr Hoareau collapsed on the court at Fort Regent, teammates formed a “barrier” around him while he received first aid.
He was taken to hospital in an ambulance but later died in the Emergency Department.
Mr Hoareau had suffered some symptoms previously but had been “thoroughly” tested and examined, the inquest heard, including completing an exercise electrocardiogram in which he performed well.
He was described as fit and active, and his heart condition was regularly monitored. Relief Coroner Advocate Cyril Whelan found that he died of left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, a structural anomaly in his heart.
In a statement, Mr Hoareau’s wife, Sally Pryce, described how he had grown up in France and lived in Germany and Spain before moving to Jersey in 2009.
He was described as a “keen” and “competitive” basketball player who enjoyed coaching younger players and often arranged team trips to France.
Previously, the Jersey Basketball Association’s president, Paul Milbank, called Mr Hoareau “the lifeblood of our community” as well as “an inspiration and mentor”.
A JustGiving page in his memory raised just over £10,000.
Advocate Whelan extended his condolences to Mr Hoareau’s family.
