Heartbroken pals have paid tribute to a Year 7 pupil who died after a medical emergency at his secondary school.

The youngster was suddenly taken ill at around 1.20pm on Monday at Shoebury High School in Essex.

Police are investigating the circumstances around his death, which is currently being treated as "unexplained".

The boy, who has not yet been formally identified, was described as "the sweetest and most energetic person ever" in social media tributes.

One girl wrote on TikTok: "Poor XXXX, his friends and family didn't deserve this :("

Another said: "He was the sweetest and most energetic person ever."

Parents in Shoebury are traumatised by the boy's death, according to councillor Nick Ward.

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Mr Ward said: "To send your child to school in the morning and then for them to not return home in the evening is tragic.

"The staff administered first aid and were very quick to respond from what I've been told.

"It's a tragic event. Your heart goes out to everyone involved and the children around them."

Police, paramedics and air ambulance crews descended on the school yesterday after receiving reports of a medical emergency.

Sadly, the boy was later confirmed to have died.

Detectives said this morning that they were continuing to investigate the circumstances around his death but dismissed social media rumours of a knife being involved.

Speaking on Monday night Detective Constable Ian Hughes, of Essex Police, said: “We will continue to investigate the circumstances into the boy’s death and will work with the school tomorrow.

“We are aware of comments on social media, and we want to reassure the community and parents of pupils at the school, no knife was involved during this tragic incident.”

In an email sent to parents on Monday afternoon, staff described it as a "serious but isolated incident".

The email, sent at around 2.20pm, read: "There has been an isolated but serious incident on the school field at lunchtime today.

"The parents of the child concerned have been notified. Emergency services are managing the situation with school staff supporting."

Another letter sent by the school yesterday read: "At lunchtime today there was a medical issue involving one child; no other individuals were involved."

It added that specialist support would be in place for children, who would be spoken to about the situation by their tutors.