The family of 27-year-old Richard Lightwood are now struggling to comprehend the loss of the second twin, following the death of his brother Andrew, aged 14.

Mother Angela Lightwood, from Kings Bromley, near Lichfield, said a post mortem had confirmed Richard died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Mrs Lightwood said: “We have just had the post mortem results. It’s exactly the same thing as Andrew died from. The coroner phoned me to say it is the same cause of death, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.”

Richard was training to become an electrician and lived with his girlfriend in Rugeley.

He died on Saturday at Kings Bromley Cricket Club, near Lichfield, while bowling for the home team against Uttoxeter in the Burton and District Cricket League.

Andrew died while batting for a junior side in 1994. Both siblings are thought to have collapsed at 1.20pm.

Tests carried out on Richard following his sibling’s death revealed he also suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and he was put under the care of a specialist in London.

The condition is genetic but consultants had not been able to find a history of the disease in the family.

It causes the heart muscles to thicken and cannot be reversed, although it can be treated with drugs.

Richard will be buried alongside his brother in Kings Bromley.

The tragedy happened the same day that former Walsall footballer Matthew Gadsby, also 27, died after collapsing on the pitch while playing for Hinckley United.

By Victoria Hoe

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