Joshua Olamidele Oguns was an exceptional young man – defined by humour, kindness, faith and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Following a standout sporting performance, in July 2025, at just 14 years old, Josh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while playing a sport he loved.
Friendly, funny and always full of life. Josh had an unparalleled internal drive to be the best in anything he thought was worth doing. He always found a way to bring the best out of himself with dedication and practice. Josh was humble, gracious, gentle, kind, sacrificial, full of faith and cared deeply about others.
A gifted athlete, Josh played basketball but his true passion was football. The morning of Saturday 5 July 2025 started out like any other day but ended in a way never imagined. After a stellar game for his Under 14s football team, he was invited to play in the Under 15s team who were short on numbers. True to form, Josh gladly accepted the opportunity, gave his best and earned the Man of the Match in the U15 team’s 2-1 victory over Majura FC. He was beaming about how well the team played and his own contribution. Josh was the picture of health and athleticism, no one would imagine that game to be his very last football game ever.
Later that day, in the third quarter of a basketball game, Josh was on the bench when he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
He was later diagnosed with an anomalous origin of his left main coronary artery. There were no signs or symptoms until his sudden cardiac arrest which ultimately proved fatal, resulting in Josh’s death at 14 and a half years of age.
Josh’s speech in the video linked on this page sums up his thoughts on taking opportunities. It is a true reflection of Josh’s expression of advocacy for others especially those who could very easily be forgotten and left out.
What you can do
Donate (Tax-deductible) to support the work of the Foundation.
Your support helps us screen young athletes, educate communities, and build the infrastructure needed to prevent sudden cardiac arrests across Australia.
Register your interest for your community or school team’s heart screening
Check out education resources available now
Register your interest for training (aimed at coaches, managers, athletes and parents)
Volunteer with us by registering your interest (we’re looking for admin assistance, ECG technicians, nurses, paramedics, medical students, doctors, community & corporate engagement volunteers, fund raisers and others who are willing to support our work)
