Boy, 10, dies hours after theme park trip
A 10-year-old boy from the Black Country died suddenly from a mystery illness just hours after a day out in a theme park while on holiday with his family.
Damien Singh Khunkhuna complained of a stomach ache after leaving the Wonderland water park near the city of Jalandhar in the Punjab region of India. His father took him to see a GP but the Wolverhampton youngster, who was a pupil at Graiseley Primary School, rapidly deteriorated and died on the way to hospital just two hours later.
His devastated family today described him as a kind and exceptionally friendly child, with friends of all ages and cultures.
His headteacher Wendy Briscoe and many of his classmates are attending his funeral at Bushbury Crematorium tomorrow.
Damien died on April 15 during a three-week Easter break with father Navtag, 39, stepmother Pam, 27, and 14-year-old sister Sonia.
The children were given the choice of going to Disneyland but opted for India instead. The family flew out on March 31 and the tragedy happened just days before they were due to return.
Mr Khunkhuna said his son had suffered medical problems when he was younger after being born three months premature weighing in at less than 2lb.
But he was given the all-clear five years ago.
On the day he died, he complained of a stomach ache and later his legs went numb and he was unable to walk. His father said his stomach became swollen and hard. After visiting the GP, he was resting at the home of family friends where his condition deteriorated.
Doctors at the nearby Oxford Hospital tried to resuscitate him but the youngster did not respond.
His father said: "He had never suffered from stomach problems before. He was a happy, healthy boy. He had more friends than the whole family put together."
His stepmother Pam Parmar added: "Damien gave his gym shirt to a boy at school because he had two and he said the other boy didn't have any. That's the sort of child he was."
An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday.
