Glowing tributes were paid to a teenage boy who died suddenly after attending a party at a sports club.

Richard Smith

GLOWING tributes were paid last night to a teenage boy who died suddenly after attending a party at a sports club.

The 16-year-old boy from Leiston had been to a party at the Sizewell sports club in the town and then a few hours later he was found unconscious by his mother at home.

Frantic efforts were made to revive the popular teenager and a police officer had to drive an ambulance while paramedics carried out cardio pulmonary resuscitation.

But Makiebien Stappard, of Arnhem Road, Leiston, died on February 14 at Ipswich Hospital and his post mortem is due to be carried out today.

The Leiston High School pupil had been to an 18th birthday party at the sports club near his home on Friday evening.

Anne-Marie Breach, a spokeswoman for Suffolk police, said: ''Police were called at 6.30am on Saturday 14 February by the ambulance service, who had attended a property in Arnhem Road in Leiston where a 16-year-old boy had been found unconscious.

''The teenager was taken to Ipswich Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police are treating the death as unexplained and are carrying out inquiries, although at this stage there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.''

School friends and teachers were shocked to be told about Makiebien's death.

Ian Flintoff, head teacher at Leiston High School, said: ''The death of Makiebien Stappard has left our school community in shock.

''Makiebien was a bright, sparky and highly intelligent sixth form student. He gained some excellent GCSE results in 2008 and was a gifted linguist.

''He was a very popular young man with a unique take on life and he loved school. He was a complete enthusiast, he became involved in so many aspects of school life and was always willing to take on responsibility and help out.

''He will be deeply missed by students and staff alike. I have expressed to his mother the condolences of everyone at the High School who feel the loss of a boy with so much promise and love of life.''

Makiebien had an internet social networking site and his friends quickly left messages after hearing of his sudden death.

One message read: ''Rest in peace, Makiebien, we will never forget you, you're one in a million.''

Other tributes said he made everyone smile, and he was a brilliant person.

Matthew Clayton, a 15-year-old pupil at Leiston High School, lived next door to Makiebien and he said: ''There were ambulances and police cars out here on Saturday morning.

''He was a lovely bloke, he was a really nice person, he had a nice personality and would do anything for anybody.

''He had a lot of friends and there are a lot of people who are very upset at the moment.''

A spokeswoman for the East Anglian Ambulance service said it was called to the house at 6.26am on Saturday.

Efforts were made to resuscitate the teenager during the journey to Ipswich Hospital and he arrived at the accident and emergency department at 7.56am.

Makiebien's family said they were too upset at the moment to comment.