The father of a 20-year-old man who died in 2011 from a blood clot after spending up to 12 hours at a time playing his Xbox, has said parents need to protect their children from the dangers of playing computer games.
Chris Staniforth suffered a blockage to his lungs when he developed deep vein thrombosis, which is caused by being inactive for long periods and is more commonly associated with passengers on long haul flights.
Chris' heartbroken father, David said: "As a parent you think playing computer games can't do them any harm because you know what they are doing.
Advert
"Kids all over the country are playing these games for long periods - they don't realise it could kill them."
The gaming enthusiast collapsed outside a JobCentre following an interview, after telling a friend he'd been experiencing pains in his chest. Despite paramedics arriving on the scene they failed to save him.
Credit: Myspace
Advert
A coroner confirmed DVT as the cause of death, despite the 20-year-old having no history of ill health or underlying medical conditions.
Each year, DVT affects around one person in every 1,000 in the UK. Anyone can develop the condition, though it becomes more common over the age of 40, people who are overweight and those with a family history of clots.
David, 54, of Sheffield explained how Chris would sit engrossed for hours in games
"Chris lived for his Xbox," David said. "When he got into a game he could play it for hours and hours on end, sometimes 12 hours in a stretch."
Advert
Chris had hoped to have a career in computers and was offered a place to study Game Design at Leicester University. Since his death David has become a campaigner for awareness around playing video games for hours on end.
Microsoft recommends gamers allow time for breaks and exercise whilst playing their consoles.
Featured Image Credit: MySpace