Tragic death of Leon Mansell
A "very fit" 14-year-old Black Country schoolboy - described by his mum as "perfect in every way" - collapsed and died despite desperate efforts to revive him by a group of young friends, an ambulance crew and a team of doctors.
A "very fit" 14-year-old Black Country schoolboy - described by his mum as "perfect in every way" - collapsed and died despite desperate efforts to revive him by a group of young friends, an ambulance crew and a team of doctors.
The mystery death of Leon Mansell, of Beecher Street, Colley Gate, Halesowen, is now being investigated and his heart is being examined.
His mother Jean Mansell rushed to Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, after being called at work on Wednesday night.
She watched a team of doctors as they fought in vain for two hours to save her son's life in the resuscitation room.
Leon, a keen footballer and pupil at Windsor High School, Halesowen, who wanted to become a PE teacher, collapsed as he laughed and joked with five friends at the home of one of them in Long Innage, Halesowen, at 7.15pm on Wednesday.
Jean, aged 48, a press operator at Fern Plastics in Macrome Road, Wolverhampton, said: "The father of the boy whose home they were at is a first aider, and he did his best to save him, and Leon's friends followed the advice the ambulance service gave as they were on the phone.
"There has been a post mortem, and they think he may have had a heart attack. There is nothing else to explain it because he was very fit and had never been ill."
Leon's father Bernard, 55, who lives in Fontana, California, heard about the tragedy while making a video phone call when the fiancee of one of Leon's brothers came on the line and told him what had happened.
Bernard, who flew over from the United States on Saturday to be with Jean and their other children Craig, 24, Kerrie, 19, and Matthew, 17, said: "I was devastated — and it came at a time when my new wife Nancy has pneumonia. Leon's death is a complete mystery at the moment."
The family have described Leon, whom they called Little Man because he was the youngest, as a "comedian" whose smile lit up a room. Jean added: "He was perfect in every way — a son to be proud of." Bernard, who used to be a machinist, emigrated to live with his new wife a year ago and has just obtained a work permit in the US.
Leon's sister Kerrie said: "Everyone always knew when he came in the room because his smile would light it up." His brother Craig is engaged to Joanne Neal, 22, who lives at the family's home and who broke the news to Bernard. Craig said: "He was a brilliant brother. He was my world."
