A golf club in Enniskillen is honouring a member who suddenly passed away from a heart attack.

Roy Cathcart, captain of the Lough Erne Golf Club, has chosen the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI) as one of its charity partners for this year in honour of his friend and the husband of Lady Captain Daphne Gibson, Jonny, who died in late April.

Mr. Gibson was a keen golfer, competitive rower, and rugby player, cherished by the Fermanagh community.

He worked in animal welfare and participated in numerous sports including the British Rowing Championships in 2020 when he felt a pain in his chest.

Daphne said: "When Jonny got checked out at A&E we were all shocked when they said he’d had a heart attack.

(Image: British Heart Foundation)

"Jonny had three stents inserted and the medical staff said that the build-up of plaque in his arteries had been caused by a hereditary heart condition.

“He had a family history on his mother’s side of heart issues, she also had stents and some of Jonny’s uncles had died suddenly of a heart attack.

“However aside from high blood pressure, Jonny hadn’t had any other health problems so it was difficult for him to adjust his way of life after the heart attack as the medical advice said he could continue with activity but nothing that could put his heart rate up as high.”

Jonny's lifestyle was normal until Christmas 2023 when he developed a bad cough.

Daphne said he went to the hospital in February and an x-ray showed everything was clear.

However, while at work in April, he felt pain in his side and went to A&E.

(Image: British Heart Foundation)

He later received the devastating news that he had a stage four incurable lung cancer that had spread.

He was preparing to go through a course of immunotherapy when he passed away from a heart attack at age 59.

Daphne said: “It was just so sudden and such a shock and has left me and our two children completely devastated.

“I miss Jonny every day. He was so loving and caring and put everyone else first.

“He was such a big character and so inspirational to many around him, it has left a huge gap in our lives.

“The support of family and friends helps keep us going. It provides some comfort to continue his good work within the community by supporting a charity such as BHF who undertake life-saving research into heart and circulatory conditions.”

Mr. Cathcart said: "Jonny has been such a central part of the club and community for many years and I wanted to honour his memory by choosing charities that he supported.

“We’ve already raised a fantastic amount of £2,200 for the BHF on my Captain’s Day and have plans to hold a number of fundraising events throughout the year.”

Fearghal McKinney, head of BHF NI, said: "Jonny was a cherished friend and much-loved member of the Enniskillen community.

"It is an honour to be able to help build a partnership in his name and create a legacy that will help thousands of people here who are affected by heart and circulatory conditions."