THE parents of a “well-known and well-loved” teenager from Potters Bar, who died while travelling the world, have paid tribute to him.

Ian and Teresa Harrison, of Tiverton Road, spoke to the Potters Bar Edition following the loss of their son Ryan, 18, who died in his sleep in Seattle, USA, while on a six-month trip around the world.

His cause of death, on October 25, has been given as eosinophylic myocarditis; a natural cause brought about by a viral infection that inflames the heart muscle and can cause the heart to fail.

His funeral on November 9, at Our Lady and St Vincent Church in Mutton Lane, was attended by around 600 people.

“Not everyone could get into the church,” Ian said.

“It gives an indication of how well-known and well-loved he was by everybody.”

Both Ian and Teresa wanted to highlight the work of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, in the hope that others might be able to detect heart problems before it’s too late.

“There’s not a lot we could have done about Ryan,” said Ian. “But there might be others out there who are at risk and something can be done.”

An estimated 12 young people (under 35) die every week due to sudden cardiac death.

For more tributes to Ryan, see this week’s Potters Bar Edition, out today (Wednesday).