Schoolboy, 15, died playing football after complaining about shortness of breath just weeks earlier

A SCHOOLBOY died playing football after complaining about shortness of breath just weeks earlier.

Jake Lawler, 15, passed away after collapsing at Ashton on Mersey School in Sale, Trafford, on November 5 last year.

An inquest into the teen's death was opened at Stockport Coroners' Court yesterday.

The court heard a month before his death he attended Wythenshawe Hospital complaining of shortness of breath while playing football.

The hearing was told Jake, from Sale, had also collapsed around that time.

A post-mortem found his cause of death as biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopath.

ACM is rare genetic heart condition that affects the heart's ventricles causing heart rhythm disorders and a weakened heart muscle.

Jake's school said: "Our school community was absolutely devastated by the loss of one of our much loved and precious students, Jake Lawler, who recently passed away in tragic circumstances.

"As a school, we keep his family and friends in our thoughts and continue to support our students and staff during this incredibly difficult time.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to share a link to Jake's memorial fund, set up by his family to raise awareness of a very worthy cause - CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young).

"The money will go towards raising awareness of young sudden cardiac death as well as supporting the families affected, supporting their screening programme and funding research and pathology."

Senior coroner Alison Mutch adjourned the hearing for a full inquest on April 15.