A gran has said a teen who died of a suspected accidental drug overdose was a "little diamond" and the family has been "destroyed" by his death.
Kyle Stewart Duncan, 17, was found unconscious in his bedroom at his home in Falkirk, on February 25, and rushed to Forth Valley Royal Hospital where he was found to have severe brain damage and died eight days later.
His gran Jackie Hunter, 59, said the family has been ripped apart by the loss of her "little diamond", reported the Daily Record.
"A massive part of me has gone with Kyle. He was my little diamond and his death has destroyed our family," she said.
"Kyle was a quiet lad, just a lovely young boy. He was loved dearly by all of us. My heart is breaking. If love could bring him back, he'd be with us now. This has ripped us apart."
A post-mortem will be undertaken to establish the exact cause of Kyle's death, but his family believe it was a drug overdose.
Jackie said: "I just wish I had known he was taking drugs and I could have helped him before this happened. I asked him numerous times but he denied it. I think he was trying to protect me because he knew how I would react.
"Now it's too late and we are left here shattered."
Kyle's tearful mum Claire Hunter, 36, and gran Jackie now want to warn others of the dangers of using drugs in the hope of preventing another family from going through similar heartbreak.
She added: "Drugs are so dangerous and Kyle's death is proof of that. Young people using these drugs need to know the consequences of their actions.
"I hope that by reading what has happened to our boy at least one person will think twice about using. We want to speak out to prevent another family from going through the devastating ordeal we are facing. We are finding it hard to go on without him."
A gofundme page has been set-up to help pay for Kyle's funeral.
Organiser Natalieanne Crosby wrote: "The family are devastated beyond belief that the unthinkable and unimaginable has happened. Kyle had his full life ahead of him. A life full of love and laughter but tragically life had different intentions for our precious Kyle.
"This heartbreaking tragedy has ended with planning Kyle's funeral. If we can raise even just a small amount it takes the financial pressure that's been forced upon Kyle's heartbroken mum and close family."
A Police Scotland spokesperson reportedly said: "A 17-year-old man died within Forth Valley Royal Hospital on Sunday, 5 March 2023.
"He had been taken to hospital after becoming unwell within his home in York Drive, Falkirk on Saturday, 25 February 2023. A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal surrounding the circumstances."
