I thought my fit and healthy fiancé, 34, had pushed himself too hard at the gym before he collapsed and died

A WOMAN has told the heartbreaking story of how her fiancé’s ‘exhaustion’ from the gym was actually a sign of an undiagnosed heart condition that took his life. Marco Damaggio, 34, tragically passed away just days after he and his partner, Lana Corina, 37, had told friends they were expecting a baby. Marco Damaggio, pictured with his fiancé Lana Corina, sadly died at just 34 years old Credit: Kennedy News and Media His fiancé thought he had just pushed himself too hard at the gym when he said he wasn’t feeling well, but it was actually the sign of an undiagnosed heart condition Credit: Kennedy News and Media A personal trainer who carefully monitored his diet and was always at the gym, the couple always assumed Marco was extremely healthy. But in July, he came home from the gym and told Lana he didn’t feel very well. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! The couple, however, initially put this down to the heat – he had worked out in 35 degrees in a gym with no aircon. But when Marco said he “couldn’t breathe”, Lana decided to call 999, and moments later he had collapsed. His fiancé performed CPR while the ambulance was on the way, but paramedics sadly could not save Marco’s life. Speaking about the life-changing event, Lana, from London, said: “It feels like my life’s stood still since July 6.” It emerged after Marco’s death that he had an undiagnosed heart condition. It is estimated that in the UK, at least 12 people aged under 35 die from an undiagnosed heart condition, the British Heart Foundation says. Most read in Health And up to eight million people are living with undiagnosed or uncontrolled high blood pressure – a leading risk factor for heart disease – in the UK, it adds. Describing the events of that dreadful day, Lana said: “It started as a normal day, the weekend before we went to a wedding party for one of his friends, it was the perfect time for him to tell everyone about the baby that we’re expecting. Lana called 999 when Marco said he couldn’t breathe, and moments later he collapsed Credit: Kennedy News and Media The couple had told their friends they were expecting a baby just days before Marco died Credit: Kennedy News and Media “He wanted to be a father so much. “We woke up in the morning, had breakfast as always, he went to get a blood test done because we went through fertility treatment. “He came back home and even though he didn’t tell me initially, about an hour after coming home he said he hasn’t been feeling well after the gym.” The mum-to-be continued: “It was during the heatwave, it was 35 degrees outside and the gym has no aircon so I thought maybe it’s just exhaustion – having had blood taken out plus the heat and the workout. “He started saying ‘I can’t breathe’ so at that point we called 999. “Within seconds he passed out and that’s when the nightmare started” When paramedics got to the scene, they worked on Marco for a few hours but despite their best efforts, he tragically did not respond. Following his death, it was later revealed that he had an undiagnosed heart condition, but Lana said she was shocked by this news. He had previously played lots of rugby and had “changed many people’s lives” through his work as a personal trainer. She added: “He was more than just a coach, he was a friend, a mentor, a supporter and a confidant. Marco was a personal trainer, had previously played a lot of rugby, and carefully monitored his diet Credit: Kennedy News and Media Lana now wants to spread awareness about hidden heart conditions after Marco’s death Credit: Kennedy News and Media “He didn’t have a bad bone in him.” Lana now wants to spread awareness about hidden heart conditions and believes people who experience symptoms such as extreme fatigue and arm, jaw or back pain should be screened. Speaking about Marco, she said: “He always took his supplements, he always hit his macros, he only had one cheat day a week. “I was always worried that he trained too hard but it was part of him. “He did that since before I met him, that was who he was, he worked really hard. “Too many athletes such as Marco suffer or die from undiagnosed heart conditions, it seems to be very common in bodybuilding as well as football. “If we saw a cardiologist maybe things would’ve been easier, he would have started treatment that would have helped him instead of just passing out and just never coming back.” Lana is now navigating life without Marco while also preparing for the birth of their child. Lana’s friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help her when she goes on maternity leave and raises their baby alone Credit: Kennedy News and Media The 10 signs you might have heart house Around 4 million males and 3.6 million females in the UK are living with some form of heart or circulatory disease. But how can you spot the signs of a potential heart problem? Here are 10 signs that could mean it’s time to see a doctor: Chest pain – If your chest pain does not stop after resting for a few minutes and you feel extremely unwell, dial 999 and get an ambulance as soon as possible. But if you feel pain or tightness in your chest that goes away after a few minutes of resting, you may have angina Stomach pain like indigestion – A painful or burning feeling in your chest or stomach can be a sign of a heart attack or related heart problem Arm, jaw or back pain – If you’re having a heart attack, pain may also spread to other parts of your body. This includes your arm, jaw, neck or back Feeling sweaty – Working up a sweat because it’s a hot day or you’ve been to the gym is nothing to worry about. However, you should call 999 for an ambulance if you start to feel hot and clammy along with chest pains, as it could be a heart attack Choking feeling – Angina can sometimes cause a feeling of tightness or pain up in the throat. This is often described as a ‘restricting’ or ‘choking’ sensation Feeling sick – Most of the time, feeling queasy will not be related to your heart. However, if you suddenly start feeling sick and notice pain in your chest as well, it could be another sign that you’re having a heart attack Swollen ankles – Swollen ankles are common and have lots of causes. For example, they may be caused by tablets you are taking, such as blood pressure medication. However, that does not mean you should ignore them, especially if your ankles get very big, as this can be a marker of heart failure Leg pain – A gripping, cramping sensation in your calves when you are walking is a marker of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The pain is caused by your legs not receiving enough blood Extreme fatigue – Feeling tired all the time can be a symptom of lots of conditions – including heart failure. But if you start experiencing extreme tiredness and your lifestyle has not changed, it’s a good idea to chat to your GP Palpitations – These are usually harmless, and can be caused by things like stress, caffeine or hormonal changes. However, if your heart is going very fast and jumping around erratically, then that’s when you should see your GP Source: The British Heart Foundation Her friends set up a fundraiser to help them, as Lana will soon be going on maternity leave. Speaking about the future, Lana said: “For me it’s been really hard to deal with life now. “The baby is growing and I find it really hard to accept I’ll be a single mum because he deserved to be here. “We found true love, which not many people get to experience in their life time, but was cut short because of his undiagnosed heart condition. “Our hearts are not being checked unless something really bad happens such as strokes or heart attacks and by then, for some it’s too late. “Marco was an amazing person, he changed a lot of people’s lives.” Comment now