Mum’s tribute to son (14) after shock death

A GRIEVING mother has spoken about the tragic loss of her teenage son who died last week.

Daniel Robinson, who had been a “happy, healthy child”, died at the Royal Blackburn Hospital last Wednesday – two days after collapsing in Wellgate, Clitheroe, with stomach pains while on his way to see his GP.

Daniel, a pupil at Bowland High School, began experiencing stomach pains on Saturday, May 21st, and was taken to hospital, but later discharged and sent home home with laxatives.

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His mother, Joanne Johnson, explained how Daniel continued to have pains and went on: “I decided to take him to the doctors. The earliest appointment was 5-30 p.m. on Monday and as we were making our way there, Daniel vomited and collapsed.

“Luckily, off-duty anaesthetist Mr Ian Stanley was in the vicinity and managed to stabilise Daniel before he was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital. He underwent investigations, and doctors discovered his bowel had ruptured and he had contracted septicaemia, which led to the failure of his organs.

“Daniel was then put onto life support machine and died on Wednesday morning.”

Joanne, who lives in Wellgate with her husband, Mark, who runs MJ Car Sales, explained how Daniel underwent an appendicectomy aged 11 and doctors believe scar tissue had been growing around the bowel since then, which strangulated the bowel.

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Paying tribute to her “popular and cheeky” son, she said: “Daniel did everything with a smile and looked after everyone, especially his little sister, Natalie. He was very sensible and his hobbies included rugby and kickboxing.

“He had an infectious smile and he warmed to everyone. He was very hard working lad and wanted to be a farmer. He loved farming and spent a lot of his time helping at Pilling’s Farm in West Bradford by John Wrathall. He had also recently started at part-time job at Gisburn Auction Farm, but died before picking up his first wage packet.”

Staff and pupils at Bowland High have also expressed shock and sadness at Daniel’s death. Headteacher Mr Stephen Cox said: “The whole school is in shock over losing such a popular member of the school community. All our thoughts and prayers are with his family.” He went on: “Bowland is a tight-knit community, where pupils are very close to each other and the loss of Daniel has touched the school to its bones. The school will be holding a special assembly in remembrance of Daniel. We will all miss him deeply.”

An inquest into Daniel’s death was opened and adjourned yesterday afternoon.

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A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday (June 7th) at All Hallow’s Church, Mitton. A tractor and trailer will transport Daniel’s coffin via West Bradford and Waddington to the church. Joanne added: “I know a lot of Daniel’s school friends will want to pay their respects, but I urge them not to come dressed in school uniform, but to turn up dressed as normal as this is a celebration of Daniel’s life.”

As well as his mother and step-dad Mark, Daniel leaves his dad Stephen Robinson, 12-year-old sister, Natalie Robinson and step-sisters Hollie (24) and Aimee Johnson (22).

There’s more on this tragic story in today’s Clitheroe Advertiser & Times.

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