An 11-year-old boy’s family fear he was being bullied in the lead-up to his death after he was found unresponsive in his bedroom.
Asad Khan died shortly after being taken to hospital from his home in Bradford on Wednesday evening.
Pupils and staff at his school are said to be “united in grief” over the tragedy. Simon Wade, headteacher of Beckfoot Upper Heaton School, in West Yorkshire, said Asad had only been a pupil at the school for three weeks.
A statement posted to its website said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt last night of the death of Asad Khan one of the school’s newest students. The school is united in its grief at this sad time. The school community is working together as students, parents and staff come to terms with these events. All our thoughts are with Asad’s family at this terribly difficult time.”
Mr Wade added: “The school is aware of speculation about the circumstances surrounding Asad’s death. In Asad’s first three weeks at school he made a great impression on all who met him. He was doing well in lessons, scoring high marks for his attitude to learning and his positive approach to school life and the school was looking forward to a bright future for him.”
West Yorkshire Police confirmed that inquiries were continuing but that Asad’s death was not thought to be suspicious.
A spokesman said today: “Police were called by ambulance staff to an address in Tile Street, Bradford, at 4.19pm yesterday after an 11-year-old boy was found in an unresponsive state. The boy was taken to hospital, but sadly died a short time later. Inquiries are continuing, but his death is not believed to be suspicious at this time.”
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A police spokesman declined to say how the boy had died, but said a post-mortem examination was expected to take place later today.
Asad’s aunt, Rehana Bibi, said she was struggling to take the tragedy in.
“It’s devastating. No words can say how shocking this news is,” she said. “He was a happy, jolly boy. He was such a lovely boy and was very shy.”
Miss Bibi said she thought her nephew was being bullied. “How can someone do this to a child?,” she asked. “He was not saying what was up to his parents. Nothing seemed wrong with the boy.”
Bradford West Labour MP Naz Shah said she had met with the parents of Asad yesterday evening.
She wrote on her Facebook page: “This evening, 11-year-old Asad took his own life. Asad had just started his new school recently and bullying is something that has been mentioned.”
Ms Shah said she had also met with the parents of 17-year-old Adnan Shafique, who was killed in a car crash on Tuesday.
She wrote: “The pain etched in the faces of both sets of parents this evening is something no-one should have to experience. Whilst my prayers and thoughts remain with the families, could I ask you all to be kind enough and talk to at least one friend/young person about these tragedies to raise awareness about dangerous driving and bullying.”
