Nottinghamshire Cricketer Josh Downie, 24, Dies After Heart Attack At Practice Session

A young and budding cricketer from Birkenhead, Nottinghamshire, Josh Downie suffered a heart attack and died while practicing in nets at the age of 24 on Thursday, May 6, 2021. This has led to a heartfelt and tearing tribute from his mother Helen, stating that the keen cricketer and PE teacher’s death had “left a massive hole in our lives”.

Downie, who worked as a teacher had recently moved to Liverpool with his girlfriend after graduating from university. Mum Helen Downie said she was still in “complete shock” at the sudden and heart-wrenching loss of her son. His siblings Becky and Ellie are Olympians and gymnastics world championship medalists.

“He was beautiful inside and out. I will miss him forever. He apparently stumbled and collapsed and never regained consciousness,” said his mother Helen told Nottinghamshire Live.

An Ambulance Came And Took Josh Downie To Hospital But He Never Woke Up Again: Mother Helen

Josh, originally from New Basford, had his whole life ahead of him. His mother is still not over the passing of her son. Apparently, Downie was having a nets session in Birkenhead, when he suddenly collapsed and passed away in hospital. Josh’s mother, Mrs. Downie, 57 was informed that her son suffered a heart attack but a confirmation of the samw awaits on a post-mortem examination.

Josh had spells with Nottinghamshire cricket clubs including Hucknall, Fikserton and Thurgaton, and Burton Joyce. He became a first-team regular at Burton Joyce Cricket Club in 2011 and went on to score the highest individual score by a player in the club’s history. Josh would often help young players at clubs with their game and was playing men’s cricket from his early teens.

“He was very bubbly, outgoing, sociable and caring. He was the kindest boy I have ever met. He had a lovely life and he enjoyed it. He had just moved in September for his new job after graduating. It does not seem real at all that he’s gone. He would have been 25 in July. He loved his family, his girlfriend, sport, animals. We always had such lovely good times together,” his mother Helen said.

The school he taught at, Lord Derby Academy in Merseyside, described him as a “true gentleman and an exemplary role model for pupils”.

The Nottinghamshire Premier League Cricket Twitter account said in a tribute: “Everybody within the NPL community is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Josh Downie, aged just 24. Our deepest thoughts go out to Josh’s family at this time, as well as all of those who knew him from his spells with @HucknallCC and Fiskerton & Thurgarton CC.”

Everybody within the #NPL community is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Josh Downie, aged just 24.

Our deepest thoughts go out to Josh’s family at this time, as well as all of those who knew him from his spells with @HucknallCC and Fiskerton & Thurgarton CC. pic.twitter.com/VFJUzV57Uh

— Owzat-Cricket Notts Premier League (@NottsPrem) May 7, 2021

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