A HEALTHY nine-year-old boy who collapsed during a school PE lesson suffered a fatal stroke, an inquest heard.

Ian Anthony Greaves was given emergency first aid at Shadsworth Junior School, Arran Avenue, Blackburn, before being taken to hospital by paramedics on February 21.

Ian, of Ailsa Road, Shadsworth, Blackburn, died three days later at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester.

Frank Shuttleworth, who was the school's headteacher at the time of the incident, said: "I was sitting in my room when Ian was rushed in and given first aid.

"He sat up up at one point and I talked to him.

"I was later told he had had collapsed during a PE lesson."

His parents Leslie and Christine Greaves, who separated in 1994, asked consultant paediatric pathologist Dr Melanie Newbould, who carried out a detailed post mortem examination, how their son had died and if anything could have been done to prevent it. She told the inquest: "I found no abnormalities other than he had a rather heavy brain even compared to an adult.

"His blood supply was cut off and he suffered a large stroke.

"The cause is very difficult to explain and there would not have necessarily been any warning signs."

East Lancashire coroner Andre Rebello recorded a verdict that Ian died from natural causes.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.