A 16-YEAR-OLD boy has collapsed and died after suffering a suspected seizure in his bedroom.

Today the father of Chris Bradshaw paid tribute to the teenager he described as 'an absolute treasure.'

The student at St Mary's College, Blackburn, had been on medication after suffering from smaller seizures and had been under a specialist for eight years. His parents, Ian and Patricia, of Tockholes Road, Tockholes, said their eldest son died after suffering what doctors believe was a suspected epileptic seizure.

They frantically tried to revive him after finding him collapsed on his bedroom floor as his family prepared to go out for tea.

Chris, a former pupil at St Bede's High School and Feniscowles Primary School, Blackburn, had lived in Tockholes with his mum, dad and 14-year-old brother Luke for seven years after moving from Blackburn.

But Mr Bradshaw said the family were now considering moving from their home because it held too many memories which would upset them.

He said: "It is a lovely house but it upsets us to come back here. We are staying at my brother's house at the moment and my wife has only been back once since it happened.

"We had no warning of what was going to happen. I arrived home from work at about 6.30pm and was talking to Patricia for about five minutes.

"We decided to go out for something to eat and I shouted up to Chris who was upstairs in his room but he didn't respond. Patricia went up to get him and I just heard her scream.

"She found him collapsed on the floor and tried to do CPR. I tried to do it as well and the ambulance staff were brilliant but unfortunately they couldn't bring him round."

One of his parents' favourite pictures of Chris was taken as he swam with dolphins during a recent holiday to Florida.

An inquest was opened into his death on Monday and a funeral service will take place tomorrow at St John Vianneys Church, Blackburn.

Mr Bradshaw added: "People will always say nice things about their own son but I can honestly say he never gave us a day's problem in his life. He was an absolute treasure. There will be a lot of people at the church and we have been overwhelmed by the amount of cards and letters we have received saying what a nice lad he was."

Chris, who was studying biology, chemistry and physics, was due to take the first stage exams of his A-Levels yesterday. His parents said he had never been diagnosed as being epileptic.

Mr Bradshaw said: "He was dyslexic and had suffered seizures but he did very well to overcome these hurdles and did well in his GCSEs. He was hoping to go into forensic science eventually. His main hobby was socialising and he had a lot of friends.

"He was always academic and not very sporty but he was a very caring person and extremely close to his grandmother. He was very thoughtful. He was also close to his brother who is absolutely devastated.

"Luke is hoping to read a poem at the service which Chris read at his grandfather's funeral."

Chris' former headteacher at St Bede's High School, John Challoner, paid tribute to him and said the school had been praying for him.

He said: "The school is absolutely shocked and devastated about the death of one of its ex pupils. Chris was a lovely lad. He worked hard and was very diligent."

Mr Challoner is also expected to say a few words at the service tomorrow prior to the cremation in Pleasington. Chris' ashes will then be placed at the grave of his grandfather and great-grandmother.