Relatives of a young dad who died suddenly have been told to undergo cardiac screening.

Coroner Patricia Harding gave the advice to Gregg Shoults’ family when they attended an inquest into his death at the Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone.

It was suggested that Mr Shoults’ two young sons, as well as his sister Fiona, 41, should take the tests after pathologist David Rouse gave the main cause of death as cardiomyopathy – a disease of the heart muscle.

He explained that while it occurs naturally, there is often some form of genetics involved.

He said: “When someone dies young it is worthwhile that direct siblings are screened, it would do no harm.

“He may be the first person in the family to have it but he may have passed it on.”

The 29-year-old was found dead at the family home in Old House Lane, Hartlip, on October 22 last year.

He left behind his wife Melissa and their son William, who was then aged two.

Their youngest, Oliver, was born eight days too late to meet his daddy.

During the post mortem, Dr Rouse discovered Mr Shoults also had an inflamed large bowel, which is in keeping with ulcerative colitis - a disease of the colon.

It’s believed this undiagnosed condition may have contributed to the lorry driver’s death as two days prior to him passing away he had been suffering from a bout of diarrhoea.

Mrs Harding explained: “His electrolytes (minerals which help maintain fluid levels and acid-base balance in the body to keep muscle and nerve tissues working properly) would have been altered and affected his heart functions.”

A statement from Mr Shoults’s GP revealed that he had been to the practice on numerous occasions since June 2008 complaining of chest pain, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

As a result he had been prescribed medication for excess acid.

While Dr Rouse said his symptoms were constant with ulcerative colitis they weren’t typical and that as he’d been diagnosed with acid reflux, a condition in which stomach acids rise up into the oesophagus, this may have ‘muddied the waters’ and prevented a full investigation.

He added: “You wouldn’t expect coronary artery problems so his age was against him.”

Mrs Shoults, 27, asked if an ECG could have picked up her husband’s heart condition but Dr Rouse said it was unlikely to have done so in isolation.

Speaking after the hearing Fiona Shoults said: “Both of the boys and myself will of course get screened and we will get that done ASAP.”