Tribute to cricket ball tragedy boy

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1 March 2012

The mother of a boy who died after apparently being hit on the head with a cricket ball has described him as the "light of my life".

Kyle Rees, 16, suffered a serious head injury on Monday during an incident at Portchester School, in Bournemouth, Dorset, and died in hospital on Tuesday.

His mother Tanya Cooper, from Bournemouth, sobbed as she described her love for her son. She said: "He was the light of our lives, he was our everything. I can't think of enough words to say about him."

Ms Cooper added that the whole family was devastated at the loss. Flowers were left outside the school in tribute to Kyle and police were in attendance on Wednesday.

Police are investigating reports that pupils were involved a mass brawl at the school on Monday.

A pupil from the school told BBC Radio Solent that the fight, involving "30-40 kids", broke out at around 2pm and footballs, tennis balls, shoes and chairs were thrown. He said he did not know what caused the incident and it was "random copycat violence".

Dorset police said the fight was "one line of inquiry" in the investigation but stressed they had not yet received any other authoritative report of what happened during the incident.

Staff and students at the school are said to be "devastated" by the death of the "memorable and talented young man".

Debbie Godfrey-Phaure, executive head of Portchester School, said: "The next few weeks and months are going to be emotionally testing for our students and staff, but we will be doing all we can for them. We are also fully assisting the authorities with their investigations."

A 16-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with the incident, initially for an offence of assault and subsequently on suspicion of manslaughter, has been released on bail while inquiries continue.

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