Tributes to tragic Ben
Devastated parents today told how their "clever, cheerful son", who died aged 10 after going to bed with a mystery illness.Devastated parents today told how their "clever, cheerful son", who died aged 10 after going to bed with a mystery illness. Benjamin Atkins complained of feeling ill the day before his sudden death and went to bed after seeing his GP. His mother, teacher Ann Atkins, called an ambulance when she was unable to wake him the next day. Ben was taken to Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, where he was pronounced dead on February 9. The cause of his death is still a mystery and an inquest has been opened and adjourned for further investigations. Read the full story in the Express & Star
Devastated parents today told how their "clever, cheerful son", who died aged 10 after going to bed with a mystery illness.
Today Mrs Atkins and her husband David said the whole family and Ben's many friends were devastated by his death.
Mrs Atkins, of Gerald Road, Wollaston, Stourbridge, said: "We feel as though the light has gone from our lives".
Ben also leaves a half-brother and half-sister.
An inquest at Dudley yesterday heard Ben had been vomiting during the day and went to bed.
Mrs Atkins said today: "He was just being sick, which was unusual because Ben was not a sickly child. We took him to the doctors but the GP said it was probably just an upset stomach. The next morning I couldn't wake him up.
"We don't know what happened and will have to wait to see what the inquest finds."
Kate Gregory, one of his teachers at St James's School in Wollaston, said: "Ben was such a funny, cheerful, clever boy who contributed so much to life at St James's.
"Ben also helped to run a chess club at the school. He was very loving and caring and loved making people laugh or smile."
The funeral will take place at Stourbridge Crematorium on Thursday 22 February at 2pm, followed by a service at St James's Church in Bridgnorth Road, Wollaston, at 2.45pm.
Family flowers only, donations to St James's school fund.
