TRIBUTES have been paid to teenager Sam Curry who had a “brilliant sense of humour”.

Sam tragically died on July 18 last year, the day after his 15th birthday.

He had been speaking to both of his parents on the day and had been celebrating with his friends.

However, the day after turned to tragedy after Sam went into cardiac arrest after being found unresponsive inside a South Benfleet home, and later died from a drugs overdose.

Speaking at her son’s inquest, Sam’s mum Gemma Bedford said: “I knew he would be out that evening, it was the last day of school and I never expected anything.

“He hated alcohol, he detested it, he would have never drank it.

“He was a very, very funny boy, everyone wanted him around.

“He had a great sense of humour, the clown of the class and he was never nasty and never angry.

“He was very sensitive.”

The inquest heard that the family "may never know" what truly happened to him.

Following Sam’s death, the headteacher of Appleton School paid tribute to him, saying he was a “well known and popular student”.

Karen Kerridge said Sam’s death came as a “terrible shock” to all at the school and that it was a “tragic” case.

In the days after his death, more than £8,000 was raised in an online fundraiser to go towards his funeral.

A memorial event took place the Sunday after his death, with hundreds of people attending.

Memories were shared and balloons were released in his honour.

Sam’s family released a statement on the fundraiser, thanking friends for the messages of support, flowers and donations in Sam’s memory.

They said the messages had brought “comfort” to them during their grief.