A heartbroken mum has paid tributes to her "beautiful" son after he died following a trampoline accident several weeks ago.

Rob Harcourt, from Stockton, was left paralysed and requiring round-the-clock care after doing a back flip from a trampoline while at a friend's house.

According to his mum, Jackie Graves, the 37-year-old had completed the move many times before and had misjudged it, before landing on his neck.

Rob had suffered a "catastrophic" and irreversible injury and had been treated in Intensive Care at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

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He then underwent a second operation to stabilise his neck and to "prevent" further damage but suffered a pulmonary embolism, causing a cardiac arrest.

His mum said this had resulted in "massive" brain damage, which he never recovered from, and was then transferred to a hospice to receive care.

The Northern Echo: A Facebook post used with permission from the family Picture: CONTRIBUTORA Facebook post used with permission from the family Picture: CONTRIBUTOR

But in a tragic update on Tuesday afternoon, Jackie delivered the news nobody wanted to hear and confirmed he had passed away.

She said: "My clever, funny, kind and beautiful son Rob has passed away in mine and Jade's arms.

"Jimmy was with us too, holding his hand. Heartbroken doesn't touch how we are feeling right now."

Describing the heartbreaking impact of that second operation, Jackie added that Rob was still talking before the pulmonary embolism.

She added: "Rob's last words were 'Love you Mam' as he went to theatre for the first operation to his neck. He couldn't speak after that."

Tributes have since been pouring in across social media with hundreds of Rob's friends and family describing their devastation.

A GoFundMe page, which had been set up following the accident, has so far seen more than £9,000 raised by almost 400 people.

In it, Rob's mum Jackie described her son as a "wonderful" man.

Meanwhile, Amanda Jones, from Llangwyryfon, near Aberystwyth, whose husband Alan was a friend of Rob's, said he was a "popular guy" and a "great friend."

Throughout the past few weeks, 'Team Rob' had been giving updates on Rob's condition and progress.

To view the GoFundMe click here

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