THE close friend of a teenager who died suddenly at home from an undetected heart condition has paid a moving tribute.

Thomas Cowley was just 15 when he was discovered in bed by his father Adrian. The Rainford Technology student had been recovering from surgery for Crohn’s disease when he died from suspected sudden death syndrome.

The funeral of the popular teenager held at All Saints Church, in Rainford, was attended by dozens of his school friends.

His close friend Ethan who spoke at the funeral described the moment he found out Thomas had died: “When Mrs Fawley informed us that Tom had passed away, I have never felt so heartbroken in all my life. I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest. I must have sat at my desk for five minutes in a complete state of shock.

“I can’t accept the sad fact that I’ve lost someone so close to me. I can’t begin to think of the loss and pain Tom’s family must be going through. My love and thoughts go out to his family and friends.

“I was so proud to have him as my best mate. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. Tom, to me, was like my little brother. The thing that hurts the most is that I was so looking forward to seeing him well again and that won’t happen now.

“The most important thing about Tom was that he was a fighter and he never let his condition take his happiness away, but in the end it got the better of him. It’s so horrible to realise that someone so innocent and lovely could be taken from us.

“And Tom, I want you to know I love you so much mate, you will be missed by every one of us.”

“Rest in Peace little man.”

Thomas’s father Adrian, 52, is raising money in his son’s name for a cause he was passionate about. He explained that since the death of Thomas’s aunt from cancer he was keen to raise awareness of the disease. Adrian said: “It affected him and he was annoyed that there wasn’t a cure.”

You can donate via justgiving.com/thomas-cowley.