A 14-year-old boy died yesterday less than two days after collapsing in the street from stomach pains.

Daniel Robinson’s heartbroken mum Joanne and step-dad Mark have told of their ‘terrible loss’.

They said Daniel, from Clitheroe, had been a ‘happy, healthy child’ who ‘did everything with a smile’.

Daniel's headteacher at Bowland High School said they were devastated at the death of such a popular and talented pupil.

The junior chairman of Clitheroe Rugby Union Club, where Daniel played, said members were in ‘great shock’ at the ‘sad loss’.

Daniel’s parents said they would wait for an inquest to get answers over their son’s death, particularly why doctors at the Royal Blackburn Hospital diagnosed constipation and discharged him with laxatives on Saturday.

The teenager, who worked as a farm hand in West Bradford and at Gisburn Auction Mart, had started having stomach cramps on Saturday night.

His grandparents took him to the Clitheroe Hospital and they were told that he had a water infection.

Family said the former St James’ Primary School pupil was then taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital and, after having an X-Ray, sent home with the laxatives.

However, the next day he woke up in severe pain and his mum decided to take him to the local doctors.

But he vomited and collapsed in Wellgate, Clitheroe, yards away from their home as his mum stopped off at the family business, MJ Car Sales.

The road was cordoned off as two police officers and a passing doctor tried desperately to resuscitate Daniel.

Off-duty anaesthetist Ian Stanley managed to stabilise him before he was transferred into an ambulance by paramedics.

Joanne said Daniel was given a full body scan in the critical care unit before he was taken to theatre for an emergency operation on his gut and bowel.

However, just hours after the operation they said Daniel's bowel ruptured.

He contracted septicaemia which led to the failure of his organs and severe heart and brain damage.

He was put onto a life support machine in the early hours of Tuesday morning before he died yesterday morning at just after 9.20am.

Joanne, 41, said: "They didn't carry out a full body scan which may have picked up the problem.

“He was a strapping farming lad and he was very healthy and fit and we can't believe that he's gone.

“All he ever wanted to do was to become a farmer after he fell in love with it when we put him in his first little tractor when he was a toddler.

"He loved herding the sheep and spending his time outdoors.

"He was very popular and cheeky and he did everything with a smile and looked after everyone especially his little sister.

"This has been a terrible ordeal for the family and Daniel had such a bright future and we will miss him so much."

She said doctors had told them Daniel's death could have been caused by a wound which did not heal correctly when he had his appendix removed when he was aged 11.

Step-dad Mark said: "We were told that the scar tissue that had grown near his appendix began to wrap itself around his bowel and it started to strangulate it, cutting off the blood supply.

"It was so sudden and devastating and we have been left in turmoil.

"It has hit us all very hard because he was so young and we had so many plans for his future."

Sergeant Graham Marshall said the police officers and off-duty doctor tried their ‘very best’.

He added: “There was no sign of life and the paramedics took over and he was put into the ambulance and rushed to the hospital.

“It is a real tragedy and our thoughts are with his family.”

Lynn Wissett, deputy chief executive at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said their thoughts were with Daniel’s family, adding: “We, alongside other partners, will continue to work with Daniel’s family to support them through this very difficult time.”

Daniel also leaves dad Stephen Robinson, 12-year-old sister Natalie Robinson, and step-sisters Hollie, 24, and Aimee Johnson, 22.

An inquest into his death is to be opened and a date for his funeral has yet to be set.

Yesterday students at Bowland High School, where Daniel was a year nine pupil, were told of his death in four special assemblies.

A special tribute assembly is being planned for the coming weeks.

Headteacher Stephen Cox said: "The whole school is in shock over losing such a popular member of the school community.

“All of our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

"Daniel was nearing the end of year nine and had matured into a sensible young person, who always learned from any mistakes he made.

“He was well respected by other pupils and responded well to challenges.

"He showed enormous determination and strength of character which was very evident on an outdoor pursuits week to Cumbria last year.

"Bowland is a tight-knit community, where pupils are very close to each other and the loss of Daniel has touched the school to its bones.

"The school will be holding a special assembly in remembrance of Daniel.

"We will all miss him deeply."

Paul Taberner, the junior chairman at Clitheroe Rugby Union Club, added: "It is a sad loss to the club and a great shock.

"He was an aspiring junior member and a very good player who did his all for the club.

"He was a second row forward, a big boisterous runner who was good in the scrums and the line-out."

Daryl Capstick, foreman at Gisburn Auction Mart, said Daniel had loved farming.

He said: “This is such a tragedy. He was one of the nicest lads you were ever likely to meet and there are not many like him around these days.

"He was very thoughtful and always worked extremely hard.

"Our thoughts are with his family.”