A Dartmouth family are raising money for a defibrillator, to ensure the safety of four family members who have been diagnosed with an incredibly rare heart condition.

Only 100 people in the world have been diagnosed with Long QT7 including Kathryn Hathaway’s partner and three of her children aged two, three and five.

Her effected children who attend Humpty Dumpty Nursery and Dartmouth Academy are at significant risk of death because of the disease and will now be on betablockers for the rest of their lives.

The condition can also mean that the victims can have episodes of temporary paralysis that can last hours, cause fits, blackouts and muscle weakness.

This disease is genetic and the children have undergone blood tests and EEGs and ECGs to help diagnose the condition, but fortunately, the eldest child has avoided the condition.

Enough money has been raised to have a defibrillator put in at the local school, but now the family are trying to have one put in at home.

To try and help, the family are raising funds though a crowdfunding page on Facebook for a defibrillator for their home which will also be available to the public if they manage to raise enough.

Kathryn’s mother is also making jewellery and selling it to help increase the funds needed to reach the £800 required.

If the funds are created, the defibrillator will be registered on the ALERTER app which will allow members of the public to use it if they ever need to.