A DEVASTATED couple say they have been left “heartbroken” after losing their third child in eight years to a rare heart condition.

Carrick Prentice-Underwood died on Thursday after being diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – the same genetic condition that killed his brother and sister.

3 Carrick Prentice-Underwood died of Vascular Ehlers-Danlos, a rare heart condition which also killed his brother and sister Credit: Facebook

The family first lost 16-year-old Charlotte to the condition in 2010.

17-year-old Craig’s death in 2013 was the second tragedy to strike the family.

Robert and Maggie Underwood have described feeling “numb” following their loss but have vowed to continue fundraising for equipment that could potentially save many lives in the future.

According to the BBC, the heartbroken couple have been calling for defibrillators to be available in schools ever since their first child’s death.

At the time, Charlotte’s tragic demise was put down to Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (Sads).

3 The family have set up a foundation to raise awareness of the condition Credit: BPM MEDIA

However, when her brother Craig died a few years later, tests determined he had Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – a condition which causes heart problems.

The diagnosis led the Underwoods to believe Charlotte may have had the same condition.

It also prompted them to have some of their older children tested.

Carrick and his siblings Christopher, 25, Caroline, 24 and 17-year-old Cameron were all diagnosed with the rare genetic heart condition.

The devastated parents are now pushing for tests to be carried out on their younger children, who are aged just seven and five.

Following Carrick’s death, the couple posted on their Facebook page ‘The Saving Hearts Foundation’, saying: “"We are heartbroken, numb and totally lost."

3 Their first tragedy struck with the death of daughter Charlotte in 2010 Credit: Gofundme

Just two days later, they went fundraising for their awareness campaign at their local Sainsbury’s in Redditch in his memory.

The bereaved father said: "We are the Sainsbury's charity of the year and we have had a couple of dates set up.

"When it came to it, we thought about cancelling but we asked Mitchell what he wanted to do and he said he wanted to go fundraising for Carrick and the charity.

"It broke our hearts, but he wanted to do it.

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He added: "It was hard, but a lot of people came up and showed us support and it was really needed.

"It really helped, all the hugs helped."

The Saving Hearts Foundation’s awareness campaign has resulted in a number of defibrillators becoming available across Worcestershire.

The family now also offer training in how to use the devices and in administering CPR.

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