An avid BMX teen biker described as having a 'heart of gold' has died of an asthma attack after returning home with a very tight chest.
Owen Rodda, 16, from Aberdare, Wales, complained of severe breathing problems to his parents after a day out with his friends.
Dad Paul called for emergency services and a friend of Owen's ran to the local police station to get help, Wales Online reports.
The officer, who first reached the house, performed a CPR on Owen until paramedics came to take over.
He was then rushed to A&E at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthy Tydfil, where he was later pronounced dead.
Devastated mum Christine paid tribute to her son and said: "He was such a character - the life and soul.
"He was the class clown and had a wicked sense of humour, but he would always be there for his friends when they were going through tough times. He would help anyone."
Christine said Owen was diagnosed with asthma when he was two years old and he would carry his inhalers everywhere with him.
"He'd had two attacks before, but nothing compared to this one. He just went about his daily life as normal," she explained.
Christine recalled the moment when Owen came home with a very tight chest on November 24, 2018.
She said: "I hadn't seen him all day as he'd been out with his friends.
"I text him to shut our front gate as it had been blowing outside. As soon as he came home he said he couldn't breathe.
"He took his jumper off and used his inhaler but it wasn't doing anything for him.
"When he really started struggling we rang an ambulance. It was all just a blur.
"We went into a room at the hospital where the doctor explained what was going on.
"We were asked if we wanted to see Owen in resus, but when I witnessed them working on him I just fell to pieces."
Following Owen's death, Christine and Paul were given a memory box by charity 2 Wish Upon a Star.
But they said while the NHS staff were compassionate and professional, no bereavement support was offered.
"The hospital didn't do anything. It was all very clinical. They didn't take us aside, give us a coffee and explain what the next steps were. We felt very alone."
A memorial was created at Aberdare Skate Park following Owen's tragic and sudden death, and a balloon release will take place on November 24 to mark the one-year anniversary.
Christine added that her family will continue to support 2 Wish Upon a Star as they were the only organisation which offered them emotional help during their time of need.
"Becky from 2 Wish is in constant contact with us and she's brilliant. She rang the hospital for us to find out the time of his death. She was also there at his inquest," said Christine.
"She's arranged counselling for my husband, and I've just started counselling myself. I didn't feel ready to do it until now."
A petition signed by more than 5,000 people was handed to the Assembly’s petitions committee on November 13 by Rhian Mannings, the founder of 2 Wish Upon a Star.
It calls on the Welsh Government to provide essential bereavement support to families of children aged 25 and under who die suddenly.
