THE family of an athletic dad-of-two who died after having a heart attack while he was on a run want regular checks to be available for people to help others.

Phil Diggle, 54, left his home on Crosby Road in Smithills on Tuesday, January 12 at around 1.30pm for a jog but was found collapsed around a mile away on Victoria Road soon after.

Two off-duty nurses were among a group of people who tried to resuscitate Phil, with CPR being performed while paramedics were on their way.

He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

His two daughters Pippa, 24, and Lucy, 21, said that he died from Ischaemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease (CDH), which was genetic and was previously undiagnosed.

And now the sisters are advising that people should be given heart checks in case they have a serious condition.

The Bolton News:

Phil with his wife Sue and daughters Lucy, left, and Pippa, right

Pippa said: "My dad did not live an unhealthy life.

"He did not smoke and he did not drink much beer, he only had the odd one.

"What happened to him shows that it could happen to anyone. It is scary.

"People have their teeth checked every six months so there should be regular heart checks."

Phil was a prolific marathon runner who completed the London Marathon on multiple occasions.

He also finished the exhausting Bolton Ironman challenge in 2017.

Lucy added: “We would just like to raise awareness for people to get a heart check.

"After what happened to our dad we now know we need to get a check.

"He was not ill when he went for a run either."

In memory of their dad, the family have also set up a crowdfunding page in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

The page raised more than £1,000 in the first 24 hours. To donate click here.