The death of a teen has sent shockwaves through West Lothian, as pals gathered to pay tribute to him.
Hamdan Aslam, 14, was rushed to hospital after falling unwell at St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn on Tuesday. Reports claim the teen choked during a social media challenge named 'Tap Out'.
The official cause of death is yet to be confirmed. Staff are understood to have attempted CPR at the scene but he could not be saved, reports the Daily Record.
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Tearful friends of the tragic youngster laid floral tributes outside the school gates on Thursday, with many of them penning heartbreaking messages of shock and grief.
One floral bouquet read: "We are going to miss seeing you every day and hearing you laugh at the most random times. I hope you have a ball up there. We will be watching for you in the sky and we hope you look down on us proud. We love you so much."
Another said: "Your precious life is gone too quickly. May you rest in peace forever."
Whilst another read: "Fly high Hamdan. You will be missed by so many. Gone but never forgotten. You will always have a special place in our hearts."
A heavy police presence remained at the school today as the investigation into Hamdan's death continues. A post-mortem was due to be carried out this afternoon to establish the exact cause of his death.
Following his passing, Hamdan was described as a “gentle” boy by a heartbroken cousin.
Zain Mohammed, 29, said: “Hamdan was gentle and wouldn’t hurt a fly. He was reserved and didn’t speak very much. He was a good boy and so family-oriented. We can’t believe he is gone. It’s a devastating loss. We loved him very much.”
St Kentigern’s Academy headteacher Andrew Sharkey said the school has been left “devastated” by Hamdan’s death.
He added: “We have set up ongoing emotional support and signposting for the students and staff affected by this tragic news. We would like to respect the family’s privacy at this incredibly painful time.
“We are assisting the relevant authorities with investigations to establish the facts and will not be making any further comment at this time.”
Police said inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. A spokeswoman said: “Officers were called to a report of concern for a 14-year-old boy at a school in the Bathgate area at about 1.20pm on Tuesday, June 6. He was taken by ambulance to hospital for treatment, but died a short time later.”
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