Brandon Lee Draycott, a 27-year-old full-time carer and regular at JD Gyms Shrewsbury, collapsed and died during a workout on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at approximately 2:40 PM. Despite immediate CPR from bystanders and a full emergency response—including two Midlands Air Ambulance helicopters and multiple ambulances from the West Midlands Ambulance Service—he was pronounced dead at the scene on Arlington Way in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, leaving behind a grandmother with dementia who lost her primary caregiver, and a family scrambling to cover funeral costs they never expected to face so suddenly.
A Life Cut Short in the Gym
Brandon Lee Draycott wasn’t just another gym member. His aunt, Clare Gannon, described him as "lovely" and "funny," someone who showed up every single day, rain or shine, to lift weights and run on the treadmill. He wasn’t there for show—he was there to cope, to stay strong, to keep going. By day, he cared for his grandmother, who suffers from advanced dementia. By evening, he helped his father and stepmother with his younger siblings. The gym was his escape, his routine, his quiet place to breathe. At 2:40 PM on November 5, witnesses say he suddenly fell during a set of squats. No warning. No scream. Just silence. Two members rushed over, started CPR, and called 999. Within minutes, paramedics arrived. Then came the helicopters—two from Midlands Air Ambulance, a charity that serves the entire West Midlands region. They fought hard. They did everything they could. But the damage was too severe. He was gone before they could transport him.Family’s Grief and Financial Crisis
The family didn’t just lose a son, a brother, a nephew—they lost the person holding their world together. Brandon’s grandmother, now alone, is reportedly wandering the house, calling for him. His father, a retired worker, and stepmother, who works part-time, are overwhelmed. Two younger siblings are in school. There’s no savings. No insurance policy covering funeral costs. And in the UK, funeral homes require an upfront deposit—often £1,500 or more—before they’ll even begin making arrangements. On November 6, Clare Gannon, who lives just five minutes from the gym, launched a GoFundMe campaign with a target of exactly £2,400. By November 8, donors had given £1,750. "We can’t bury him without this deposit," she wrote. "It’s not about fancy flowers or a big service. It’s about dignity. About saying goodbye properly. He didn’t ask for this. None of us did." The campaign page, which has drawn hundreds of local messages of condolence, includes a photo of Brandon smiling, arms around his grandmother, both wearing matching "Nan & Me" T-shirts. "He was her voice," Gannon added. "Now she doesn’t know why no one answers when she calls his name."
JD Gyms and the Community’s Response
JD Gyms Shrewsbury, located at 114 Arlington Way, released a brief statement on November 7: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our members. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to their family and friends during this incredibly difficult time." That’s been the extent of their public response. No offer to cover funeral costs. No announcement of mental health resources for staff or members. No review of their emergency protocols. The gym remains open. The weights are still in place. The treadmills still hum. Locals say it’s the silence that stings. In a town of 77,000, where everyone seems to know someone who knows someone, the lack of follow-up feels cold. One member, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I’ve seen them hand out free protein shakes for new sign-ups. But when someone dies on the floor? Nothing. Not even a memorial plaque."What We Don’t Know—And Why It Matters
The coroner has not released a cause of death. The family believes it was a heart attack. But no official report has been issued as of November 8. That’s common in sudden cardiac cases—autopsies take weeks. But here’s the problem: without an official diagnosis, the family can’t access certain benefits. Without a cause, the gym won’t feel pressure to change anything. Cardiac arrest in young adults isn’t unheard of. In the UK, around 12 otherwise healthy people under 35 die suddenly each week from undiagnosed heart conditions, according to the British Heart Foundation. Many have no symptoms. No family history. No warning. That’s why some experts are calling for AEDs—automated external defibrillators—in every gym, not just corporate chains with deep pockets. JD Gyms is part of JD Sports Fashion PLC, a publicly traded company with revenues over £3 billion. They own hundreds of gyms. They have the resources. But they don’t have to provide defibrillators by law in the UK unless they’re classified as a "public venue" under certain regulations—which gyms often aren’t.
What’s Next?
The family’s next step is simple: raise the remaining £650. They need it by November 12 to secure the funeral date. Clare Gannon says they’re holding a small gathering at the local church on November 14. No big ceremony. Just people who knew him. Meanwhile, a local fitness instructor has started a petition asking the Shropshire Council to require AEDs in all commercial gyms with more than 50 members. It’s gathered over 2,000 signatures in 48 hours. And Brandon’s grandmother? She’s been moved to a care home temporarily. Staff say she keeps asking for her grandson. When they tell her he’s gone, she just nods, looks out the window, and whispers: "He was my sunshine."Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Brandon Lee Draycott’s death?
The official cause of death has not been released by coroner’s authorities as of November 8, 2025. The family believes it was a sudden cardiac arrest, based on eyewitness accounts of collapse during exercise and the family’s GoFundMe description. No autopsy results have been made public, and without an official diagnosis, the family cannot access certain bereavement benefits or insurance claims tied to cardiac events.
Why is there such urgency to raise £2,400 for the funeral?
UK funeral homes require an upfront deposit—typically between £1,500 and £2,000—to begin arrangements, even for basic services. This covers coffin, transport, and administrative fees. Without this deposit, the funeral cannot proceed. Brandon’s family, lacking savings or insurance, is entirely dependent on public donations. As of November 8, £1,750 has been raised, leaving a £650 gap.
Does JD Gyms provide emergency equipment like defibrillators?
There is no public confirmation that JD Gyms Shrewsbury had an automated external defibrillator (AED) on-site at the time of the incident. While UK law doesn’t mandate AEDs in all gyms, experts recommend them in high-traffic fitness facilities. The lack of one in this case has sparked community outcry and a petition calling for mandatory AEDs in all commercial gyms with over 50 members in Shropshire.
How has Brandon’s death affected his grandmother?
Brandon was his grandmother’s full-time carer and primary point of contact. She suffers from advanced dementia and relied on him for daily routines, meals, and emotional stability. Since his death, she has been reportedly confused, wandering, and repeatedly asking for him. She has been temporarily placed in a care home, where staff say she often stares out the window, calling his name. Her future care plan remains uncertain.
What’s being done to prevent similar tragedies?
A local fitness instructor has launched a petition demanding that Shropshire Council require all commercial gyms with more than 50 members to install and maintain AEDs and train staff in CPR. The petition has gathered over 2,000 signatures in under 72 hours. Meanwhile, the British Heart Foundation continues urging gyms to adopt voluntary safety standards, noting that 12 young people under 35 die suddenly from cardiac arrest each week in the UK—many of them in exercise settings.
Where can people donate to help Brandon’s family?
Donations can be made through the official GoFundMe campaign created by his aunt, Clare Gannon, at www.gofundme.com/f/brandon-lee-draycott. As of November 8, 2025, the campaign has raised £1,750 of its £2,400 goal. All funds go directly toward funeral expenses, as confirmed by the campaign organizer.