A 15-year-old boy died less than one day after grazing his leg during a rugby match.
Samuel Staple had apparently been feeling unwell earlier in the day before he was found dead at home on Tuesday 24 September.
An inquest was opened into the Lincolnshire teen’s death on Monday (30 December), where he was described as ‘incredibly special’.
A lover of the sport, he had apparently hurt himself during a rugby match the day before he died, with a first aider required to treat the injury. Samuel was left with a graze on his right shin.
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“The next day Samuel felt unwell, he had been sick and he was kept off school,” Coroner Jayne Wilkes said.
“He was checked throughout the day and it was assumed he was sleeping."
But later on, when his grandmother, Rebecca, decided to check on him, he was unresponsive.
Samuel was found ‘not breathing’ and he ‘had been sick’. Paramedics were called to his grandparent’s house, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination suggested that he had high levels of medication present in his bloodstream when he died.
The inquest into Samuel’s death has been adjourned until 26 March.
Known for his love of rugby, a number of clubs paid tribute to the team with Lincoln Rugby Club writing on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness we have to let you know of the passing of a young member of our rugby family, Sam Staple.
"Sam sadly passed away on Tuesday 24th September and will be greatly missed by all. Sam was a funny, cheeky, larger than life character and was an incredibly special young man."
On 29 September, a number of players from various local clubs gathered for a match and held a minute’s silence for the lad as well as a minute’s applause to celebrate his life.
Following the special event, The Market Rasen and Louth club wrote on Facebook: “This morning showed again that while we may all support different clubs, we are all part of one Rugby Family. Market Rasen wishes to share its condolences and love to Sam's family and friends, you will always be remembered at Market Rasen RUFC."
Lincoln RFC and Samuel’s family have since established The Sam Staple Memorial Fund in his honour. Funds from this will be used to support local players develop their rugby careers.
Over £5,000 has so far been raised in his memory.
Jess Battison