A TEENAGER has died after choking on a pen top while doing his homework.

Ben Stirland, 13, died in hospital after the incident at a house in Consett, County Durham.

Ambulance crews fought to save the teenager on the way to hospital, but he died two days later.

The accident happened last week, but only came to light last night.

Ben was a pupil at Moorside Community Technology College. Headteacher Jonathan Morris last night described Ben as a much-loved member of the school.

Ben lived in Consett Road, Castleside, with his mother, Nathalie, stepfather, David, sister, Briony, and younger brother, also called Ben.

A member of the family said they were all too upset to talk about the tragedy.

A book of condolence has been opened at the college, where Ben was a year nine pupil.

Classmates have taken part in two assemblies to remember Ben and counsellors have visited the school to offer support to pupils and teachers.

Mr Morris said: "Ben was a much-loved member of our community and I am proud to have been his headteacher.

"He was extremely popular and a very active member of the school, particularly in the performing arts.

"Ben was also a very bright lad and he will be well- remembered for his sense of fun. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very sad time."

The ambulance service received a 999 call from an address in Consett just before 4pm, on Tuesday, January 9.

A rapid response vehicle was on the scene within 12 minutes, followed minutes later by an ambulance crew from Stanley.

Both teams fought to revive the teenager.

They gave him the kiss of life and administered drugs as they tried to restart his breathing.

Ben arrived at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, a little over an hour after the emergency started, and was transferred shortly afterwards to Newcastle General Hospital.

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service said: "They performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and administered adrenaline and atropine."

It is a second blow for the school, which is still coming to terms with the death of its highly-respected deputy headteacher, Phil Lewis.

The 52-year-old father-of-two collapsed and died during the Great North Run, in September, 2005.

Roger Vincent, spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "Obviously, this is a great tragedy, but incidents like this are extremely rare, particularly in someone of this age.

"Choking incidents tend to be among the very young children or elderly people and tend to involve food.

"Pen tops are designed with a hole in them to allow a flow of air if they are swallowed, but we will have to await the outcome of the inquest to determine what happened in this case.

"But it is a reminder again to people not to suck on pens. It is a very sad case."

Ben's funeral takes place at St John's Church, Castleside, on Friday, at 1.15pm, followed by cremation at Mountsett Crematorium, Dipton, near Stanley.

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