A FAMILY has been devastated by the death of a young Blackburn teenager who collapsed after an asthma attack at school.

Farzana Kausar, 14, of Edmundson Street, was taken ill at Witton Park High School on Friday and died in Blackburn Royal Infirmary on Sunday evening.

Now her family are asking for an inquiry into why Farzana did not receive medical help at school after doctors said her life could have been saved.

Farzana's parents Fazalat and Mohammed Farid were too upset to talk about the tragedy but her uncle, Blackburn councillor Mohammed Khan, said: "The staff at the hospital were wonderful and they did everything they could.

"But what has sickened me is that we have been told that Farzana's asthma attack was not that serious at the time.

"If she had had medical help earlier on, then she would be here with us today.

"Instead, we believe the teachers at the school did not contact a doctor or the hospital but waited until Farzana's mother could get to school in a taxi and then take her home in it again.

"It was when she arrived home that she collapsed and her mother had to call an ambulance.

"I realise that there is nothing we can do to bring Farzana back but we feel that something must be done to make schools aware that action could have been taken to help Farzana and that it is not always best just to leave a child until a parent arrives."

Chairman of the governing body at Witton Park, Councillor Jack Fairless, said: "I am very distressed about what has happened and I have great sympathy with Farzana's family.

"I have tried to contact the headteacher Mr John Gosling, but, unfortunately, I think he might be away during the half-term break.

"I will be making inquiries as soon as I possibly can to find out if anything could have been done to help Farzana at school and, if procedures can be changed to make sure this kind of tragedy does not happen again."

Farzana had suffered with asthma for some years but on the day she was taken ill, the inhaler she used to help her breathing, was empty. Her family are hoping to take Farzana's body back to Pakistan for burial.

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