Pupil dies after playing football

A schoolboy from the Scottish Borders has been found dead in his bed just hours after playing football.

Sixteen-year-old Chris Doyle from Tweedbank, near Galashiels, was discovered by his mother Margaret on Wednesday morning.

His family said the death was thought to be related to a heart condition, although the results of a post-mortem examination have still to be revealed.

He was a pupil at Galashiels Academy and was Tweedbank Festival Lad in 2002.

Chest pain

The student had been playing football with friends on the all-weather surface at Tweedbank on Tuesday evening, but began struggling for breath.

When he got home he was complaining of a chest pain and went to bed, only to be discovered dead the following morning.

Wilma Gunn, founder of Scottish HART, said the case backed up her charity's call for all youngsters to be screened for any potential heart defects before they play sport.

Her own son Cameron, from Selkirk, died from cardiomyopathy in 1991 at the age of 19 while playing five-a-side football.