A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD boy has died after collapsing while playing football with his friends.

It is understood the boy’s friends and nearby dog walkers attempted to resuscitate the him during the incident at St John’s School and Sixth Form College in Bishop Auckland on Wednesday night.

Boy who died after collapsing during kickabout is named

The boy, who is a year eight pupil at the school, had been enjoying a kickabout on the playing fields when he became unwell shortly before 7.30pm.

Police and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) were called to the scene and paramedics attempted to revive the boy.

He was then airlifted to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where he was sadly pronounced dead.

The boy, who has not yet been named, was a member of St Mary’s Junior Football Club in the town.

On Thursday afternoon, chairman Steve Coulthard posted on the club’s Facebook page.

He said: “This is probably one of the hardest things to post on our page but unbelievably another sad, sad day for Bishop Auckland St Mary’s JFC with the loss of one of our 12-year-old players who tragically collapsed last night while just kicking a ball about with his friends on the St John's fields.

“Unfortunately it was a non-training night so no first aiders handy but we have heard local dog walkers and friends tried to resuscitate him and we thank them for their efforts.”

He added: “Thoughts and prayers go out to all his family. We are always here for the family as a footballing community so if anything is needed we will be there.”

An air ambulance spokesperson said on Thursday: “I can confirm we were called to Bishop Auckland at 7.24pm yesterday evening.

"We flew a patient to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough and the flight took ten minutes.”

Detective Inspector Neil Jones, of Bishop Auckland CID, confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the boy’s death but an investigation was being carried out on behalf of the coroner.