A school has paid tribute to a 10-year-old boy who died after collapsing while out playing in the snow.
Joshua Houlgate, who is understood to have suffered from epilepsy when he was younger, was taken ill outside a friend’s house in Castleford, West Yorkshire, on Sunday. Despite frantic attempts to save him, he was pronounced dead in hospital.
Julie Murray, headteacher at Smawthorne Henry Moore Primary School, Castleford, said: “We are very saddened by the tragic death of Joshua and send our sincere sympathies to his family and friends.
“Joshua held a very special place in our hearts. He was a much-loved pupil who was well liked by his friends and all the staff at school. We have held a special assembly which gave us all the opportunity to come together to pray for Joshua and his family.”
Joshua’s mother Sara Houlgate, 35, and others battled to save the youngster before paramedics took him to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, where he was pronounced dead. Mrs Houlgate told the Yorkshire Evening Post it appeared her son had a fit.
Meanwhile, Britain’s big freeze shows little sign of relenting with sub-zero temperatures set to bring more misery to commuters up and down the country in the coming days.
