Founder of Health Initiatives for Youth UK dies aged 31

[gemini20]

Not sure how many people overseas will have heard of Clint Walters but he did a great deal of good work here in the UK following his diagnosis at the age of 17. Sadly he died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 31.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/farewell-to-a-hero-of-the-fight-against-hiv-1938713.html

Although I never met him we both chose to take our diagnosis and use it to educate others about HIV. I'm sure he had a tremendous impact on all those he shared his story with. He will be sadly missed I'm sure.

RIP Clint.

[Matty the Damned]

Hey Emma!

As it happens I had heard of Clint. Sorry to learn of his untimely demise.

Vale Clint. 

MtD

[Moffie65]

I have never heard of him, but my heart weaps for another HIV warrior, lost to the cause.  I will hope for many to replace him in his work.

[Dsd09]

It must be the same Clint on the NHS website:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv/pages/introduction.aspx

I wonder if the heart attack was in any way related to the HIV or meds, or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence.

31 is a young age for a heart attack, especially for someone who is physically fit as was reported by the doctor.

[Inchlingblue]

After I was diagnosed and was doing extensive online research I came across a few videos of Clint and found him to be such an inspiration. His good works will live on.

[newt]

Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Clint-Walters/111307408894634?ref=mf

[Jody]

Dear Emma and our other friends in England...Very disturbing to hear of this extraordinary young man's death.  I know you folks and all of us in the AIDS community will miss him dearly.

Jody

[moratorium79]

That is horrible.  Such a young age to be struck down.  At the very least, his life consisted of doing his best to make a difference, which is commendable.

[Theyer]

In The Independant newspaper a friend was quoted saying his friends intended to set up a Charity in Cliff,s name will endeavour to keep you all posted

Sad sad loss

[tednlou2]

It must be the same Clint on the NHS website:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv/pages/introduction.aspx

I wonder if the heart attack was in any way related to the HIV or meds, or if it was just an unfortunate coincidence.

31 is a young age for a heart attack, especially for someone who is physically fit as was reported by the doctor.

This is very sad news.  It is very rare for someone so young to die of a heart attack, but we've probably all heard about at least one.  I'm not sure if there would be any way to know what caused it--HIV, HIV meds, or just something that would have happened regardless.  It just seems so unfair to get a virus like HIV and then be struck down with a heart attack.

EDIT:

Since writing the previous post, I've been thinking a lot about this special guy.  I know this post is about remembering his good work in the fight, but I just can't help thinking about someone so young dying like this.  I was thinking about what the article said about how he learned his status at age 17 after having breathing problems and being in the hospital.  It makes me wonder whether he had a more vicious strain or his body didn't respond to the virus as well.  At age 17, I would think he couldn't have been infected for more than a couple years at the most.  At 17, he was sick enough to go to the hospital.  However, maybe the breathing issues were something he would have gotten if negative and being poz didn't have anything to do with that.  

This just really upsets me that he was fighting the virus and killed by a heart attack at such a young age.

EDIT #2:

I just found the link to the video of Clint explaining his health situation--another example of me missing something valuable in a member's post.  It was nice to put a face with the name and hear his story.