BANTING, March 1 — He was an athletic 17-year-old who played football and hockey. Paul Arven Navies started complaining of headaches during a football match on Friday. He fainted. Hours later he was dead.

Now, his family have many unanswered questions regarding his death. They were told that blood vessels in his brains had ruptured when he was pronounced dead.

Earlier at the Telok Datok health clinic, they claimed a staff member there said heat stroke could have played a role in the incident.

His cousin Edmond George, 46, said the family needed time and space to mourn before making the next move.

“We are tired and we need to settle down first. We have only spoken to his friends who said he fainted during football practise,” George said after Paul’s burial at the Sungai Sedu Christian Cemetery yesterday.

“We have yet to speak to the school and teachers to find out their side of the story.”

Speaking on behalf of the family, George said they wanted to know what exactly happened.

“There were 22 boys, 11 on each football team, on the field that day so why was he the only one that was affected?” he asked.

“We have yet to get any closure and we need some time before deciding on the next step.”

George said as far as the family knew, Paul did not have any pre-existing medical condition or complications prior to his death.

“He was a healthy boy and we were told that the blood vessels in his brains had ruptured,” he said.

“But the incident happened at 11am so the day’s temperature was at its peak at that time.”

George said that Paul was undergoing his normal football practise, which has been going on for the last two weeks, when he collapsed.

His funeral service was held at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul here where his teachers and friends were also present to provide moral support to his family.

Paul’s father, Navies Dass, 58, said his son was passionate in sports and played football and hockey in school.

“He was playing a friendly match representing his school in the Kuala Langat district match when he collapsed,” he said.

Dass said Paul was loved within the community as he was involved in community and church activities.

“He was a server in church and was active in the youth group,” he said.

Dass said Paul would be remembered as a kind, loving and jovial person and he always wanted to make them happy.

“Last week, we went on a cruise, which was the last time the family had spent quality time with him,” he said.

“During the cruise, he insisted on buying dinner for us and we will always cherish our last holidays together.”

Being the youngest of the Navies among his three sons and three daughters, he said Paul was humble in nature.

“He died at such a young age and we are hurt because we believe it is not his time to go.”

Kuala Langat police chief Supt Azman Abdul Razak said the 17-year-old student died from bleeding in the brain.

He said Paul was complaining to his teacher of a headache during the training and asked to be substituted out of the pitch.

“According to his teacher, the boy collapsed as he was walking to the side of the field,” he said.

“His teachers rushed him to a clinic in Telok Datok. The teen lost consciousness on the way there and was pronounced dead at about noon,” Azman said.

His body was taken to the Banting Hospital, where doctors confirmed that he had suffered from intercranial bleeding.

Azman said the case was classified as sudden death, adding that a message being circulated claiming that Paul had died from heat stroke was untrue.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap Kain Ching yesterday also acknowledged that the ministry was aware of the case and conveyed its condolences to the family.

She said the ministry had circulated a memo last year on the guidelines for student care during hot weather.

The circular was addressed to all State Education Department directors for distribution to school headmasters.

Among the advice given was to encourage students to stay hydrated.

“We hope all parents will cooperate with the ministry to ensure that their children follow the guidelines to avoid any untoward incidents,” Yap said.

Bernama quoted Banting Hospital director Dr Rozita Mohamed saying that Paul had died of internal bleeding in the brain and not because of heat stroke. 

* The print edition of this story contained an error which has been corrected here.