Boy, 16, dies after toilet collapse (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Boy, 16, dies after toilet collapse

6:02pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

A 16-year-old boy has died after collapsing in college toilets.

Charlie Alford was found by staff at Cornwall College, Saltash, on Wednesday afternoon.

Staff tried to resuscitate the teenager before emergency services took him to hospital, where he died later.

Friends and teachers paid tribute to the student, who had only recently started at the college.

In a statement, Jan Langley, Charlie's lecturer at Cornwall College Saltash, described the teenager as "a cheeky charmer who you couldn't help but like".

The statement added: "He was so popular with his classmates and they'd all really got to know each other well in the few weeks since he started at college. It's such a sad loss."

Cornwall College principal Dave Linnell said: "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts are with Charlie's family and friends. We are supporting students and staff at this difficult time."

A Cornwall College spokeswoman said counsellors had been on site since Charlie's death to offer support to students and staff affected by the tragedy.

Police said they were unable to comment on the possible causes of Charlie's death, but said nobody else was being sought. A statement said: "Police were informed at around 5.30pm on Wednesday by Derriford Hospital (in Plymouth) that a 16-year-old boy had died.

"Staff at the Saltash site of Cornwall College found the boy collapsed in a toilet area during the afternoon. CPR was carried out by staff and he was shortly afterwards taken to hospital by ambulance and was later declared deceased. Police are working closely with the college to ensure the welfare of staff and students are looked after and officers, as is usual in incidents such as these, are investigating the circumstances of this death."