A 15-YEAR-OLD boy has died eight days after suffering a severe asthma attack.

John Ridehalgh died in a specialist unit at a Leicester hospital on Wednesday after suffering the seizure at his home in Bromley Cross.

Doctors battled for eight days to save the Turton High School pupil but he failed to recover from a series of emergency operations

His devastated father, Paul, speaking from his home in Paper Mill Road, said: "He was so brave. He just kept battling against the odds but in the end it was too much."

John had the asthma attack after spending a day off school with a cold on Tuesday, March 1.

It was the first time he had suffered such an attack, despite being treated for the illness since he was a child. Doctors at the Royal Bolton Hospital sedated John after he was examined but realised that the condition was so severe he would have to be transferred to a specialist unit in Leicester which deals with breathing difficulties.

He was flown by a Sea King helicopter to Glenfield Hospital where doctors used a special oxygenation machine to reduce dangerously high levels of carbon dioxide in his bloodstream.

John was kept unconscious while a series of emergency operations was carried out.

His father remained at his son's bedside.

"He'd only ever been in hospital once before because he had broken his finger," said Mr Ridehalgh, aged 40.

"He was off school with a cold on Tuesday. I came home to make his lunch and when I returned in the evening he still seemed okay but 20 minutes later he appeared at the top of the stairs doubled over and unable to breathe. I'd never seen him like that before.

"He's had mild asthma since childhood but had never suffered an attack like this. One puff on his inhaler had always been enough to control it but this time there was no effect."

Mr Ridehalgh, who works for Warburton's bakery, took John to the Royal Bolton Hospital where he failed to respond to treatment.

Other hospitals in the North-west were contacted before he was taken to the specialist unit at Leicester.

"He was unconscious but he was blinking when he recognised people's voices," said Mr Ridehalgh.

"He was a massive Preston North End fan and Gary Hickson at BBC Radio Lancashire Sport did a dedication for him.

"We kept playing the tapes of the programme at his bedside.

"The doctors at Bolton and Leicester worked miracles to keep him alive as long as they did."

Devastated friends at Turton High School have devoted a classroom to John where flowers in the colours of his beloved Preston North End stand alongside written tributes and a book of condolence.

John, a Year 10 pupil, played as goalkeeper for the local football team, the Turton Tigers.

Pupils were told in class meetings and special assemblies on Thursday morning of the tragedy and a letter was sent home to parents the same day.

Staff at the school organised counselling sessions to help pupils deal with the loss.

Mr Ridehalgh said he had witnessed the "proudest moment" of his life just two days before his son was taken ill when he taught John to ride a motorbike he had bought him.

"In the last few month's he'd gone from being a boy to a confident, humorous young man," he said.

"I was telling everyone that the Sunday I taught him to ride was the proudest moment of my life."

Turton High School acting headmaster John Porteous said: "All our thoughts are with John's family and friends at this time."

Mr Ridehalgh said a funeral service would be held in Bolton and separate service in Pilling, Lancashire.