School shocked by death of Tom at 15

Thomas Buck, a pupil of St Richard's Catholic College, died in his sleep at the weekend.

A home office pathologist recorded natural causes at the family home in St Georges Road. Further tests are being conducted, as Tom suffered from a kidney condition.

His father, Andy, found him on Saturday morning at 10.30am when he took him a muffin for breakfast as a treat.

"Tom died early Saturday morning between 4am and 9am." said Andy.

"I wouldn't usually have gone in to see him that early. He was a typical teenager and liked to stay up late on a Friday and stay in bed late on a Saturday.

"I had been out and bought him a muffin for breakfast and just thought I would take it to him."

As a baby, Tom had a kidney infection which resulted in one kidney not growing properly.

"It had been monitored for years. He had to have scans and pills and he never complained about it. Although he was ill he was not a sickly child at all. You would have no idea anything was wrong with him," said Andy.

Tom had a very strong group of friends from inside and outside of school with whom he kept in touch through a private chatroom on the internet.

The family have been grateful for the support from Tom's school.

Principal Tony Campbell said: "We are giving as much support to the family as we can.

"For the pupils and staff, there is a great support network provided by our counsellors and our three priests, Father Con Foley, Father Chris Spain and Father Shelley."

School Chaplain Father Con Foley said: "The community is in shock. Young people don't expect this to happen."

A prayer book has been opened in the chapel for pupils and staff to write their thoughts in.

The funeral will be held next Thursday at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in St Leonards, where the family used to live.

A service will be held at the school simultaneously.