A HEARTBROKEN brother has led the tributes to his younger sibling on Twitter.

Sam Clowrey’s brother Ben, 17, left heart-rending messages after Sam died in hospital.

He told how the 13-year-old’s death had “left his heart in pieces”.

Sam was airlifted from his home in Fermoy Road, Thorpe Bay, at about 3.30pm on August 29. Despite doctors’ best efforts to save him, he died there just over two weeks later.

Ben posted: “I’ve come to terms with the fact I’ve got to say bye.

“I love you so much bruv, my heart is in pieces, but I hope you go to a better place.”

He also posted a picture of him holding his brother’s hand, saying: “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

Other Twitter users have also expressed their anguish over Sam’s death, which happened on September 14.

The youngster wasapupil at Thorpe Hall School, Southend.

Headteacher Andrew Hampton has also paid tribute to an impressive and popular teenager.

Mr Hampton said: “Sam was a fine young man who was popular with his peers.

“He enjoyed school life and will be sadly missed by all of his friends.

“On behalf of Thorpe Hall School, I send my deepest sympathies.”

Up to six police cars, as well as two ambulances, raced to his home on August 29, before the air ambulance arrived.

The road was closed for almost an hour while officers and paramedics attended the scene.

Sam’s inquest, which opened this week at Chelmsford Crown Court, heardapost mortem gave the provisional cause of death as bronchial pneumonia, a brain injury caused through loss of oxygen, which can be caused by hanging.