A grieving couple spoke today of their shock and disbelief after their sports-mad son collapsed and died at a York school.

And John and Jeanette Francis paid tribute to Millthorpe School teachers, and also paramedics and York District Hospital staff, who fought long and hard to save 12-year-old Matt's life when his heart suddenly stopped.

Mrs Francis, of Woodthorpe, said Matt, who collapsed during an athletics session last week, had to everyone's knowledge been a fit and healthy child.

"He liked being involved in absolutely everything," said Mrs Francis. "He played rugby and cricket, and won judo medals. He also loved fishing - he used to spend all day fishing. He never seemed to be poorly."

She said it was now known that Matt's heart had simply stopped while he was running on the school field, only seconds after he had been chatting normally to a friend.

She said a post-mortem examination had revealed that he had myocardial fibrosis - scarring of some of the heart tissue which nobody had been aware of.

"He was growing up a perfectly healthy young man," said Mr Francis, who said he, his wife and Matt's 14-year-old brother Craig were still reeling from the shock of his death. "It's just shock and disbelief."

The couple thanked friends and family, and also staff from the school, who had rallied round to support them in recent days.

"Everyone has been excellent. The teachers did not delay in going to Matthew and calling an ambulance.

"They were giving him aid until the ambulance arrived, and the paramedics continued treating him until they got to the hospital, and the staff there continued to try to help Matt for another two hours."

Mr Francis said he had run from his BT office in Rougier Street up to the hospital to meet the ambulance carrying Matt.

He said his son, a joker who was very popular with fellow classmates, had recently bought an electric guitar with his pocket money and had learned to play John Lennon's Imagine before his death.

The song will be played at Matt's funeral, which takes place at 11.30am next Monday at York Crematorium.

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