A MOTHER has today paid glowing tribute to her “marvellous” teenage son following his tragic sudden death at the weekend.

Lizzie Parry

A MOTHER has today paid glowing tribute to her “marvellous” teenage son following his tragic sudden death at the weekend.

Makiebien Stappard died on Saturday February, 14 after his mother found him unconscious at home in the early hours of the morning.

Post mortem results revealed the 16-year-old sustained a head injury following a heavy fall.

Stacey Stappard said she could not put into words how the loss of her “loving and caring” son had affected her family.

“Words cannot convey how I feel or how wonderful Makiebien was,” she said. “He loved life and school, the theatre and going on holiday. My life is devastated without him and I can never pay high enough tribute to him.

“He was an absolutely marvellous son - handsome, clever, loving and caring - and he would do anything for anyone.”

The sixth form student at Leiston High School had a flair for languages and had ambitions of working as an interpreter.

A high achiever, he had been accepted on a prestigious intensive languages course in the summer at the country's top private boarding school, Eton.

Following his sudden death friends and class mates of Mr Stappards have flooded his Facebook page with tributes and memories.

Ms Stappard said seeing the countless messages had shown her just how popular her son was amongst his peers.

“He was my son I didn't need to look at the messages left on his Facebook site to know how wonderful he was, but seeing all the tributes has shown he was well-liked and respected by others too.

“I know that Leiston High School is planning a memorial service for him and I want this and his funeral to be an opportunity for all his friends to pay their tributes to him.”

The school has also paid tribute to the gifted sixth form student and Ian Flintoff, the head teacher, admitted the death had left the school community in shock.

Makiebien was a pupil who had a “unique take on life and he loved school,” and he had “so much promise and love of life,” said Mr Flintoff.

Police officers are appealing for help from the public in tracing the 16-year-old's last movements before he died suddenly after attending an 18th birthday party at the Sizewell sports club in Leiston.

The party, on the evening of Friday, February 13, marked the start of a week's half term for the popular and highly intelligent pupil.

He was found by Ms Stappard unconscious early on Saturday, February 14 at his home in Arnhem Road, Leiston.

The East Anglian Ambulance service was alerted and paramedics carried out cardio pulmonary resuscitation in an ambulance on the way to Ipswich Hospital. But he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Following the post mortem further tests are now set to be carried out but a police spokeswoman said there was nothing to indicate any suspicious circumstances at this stage.

Police officers want to hear from anyone who saw Makiebien in the 24 hours before he died to build up a picture of what he did before his death.

They are asking for anyone who was with him, or who saw him, to call Suffolk police on 01473 613500.