A school has been struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of one of its 12-year-old pupils.
Emma Hurlbut collapsed at her desk in her classroom at St John Payne School in Chelmsford.
The youngster fainted during an English lesson and despite resuscitation attempts by medical staff and an ambulance crew she was declared dead on arrival at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.
Her mourning parents John and Pamela and her four-year-old brother were said to be "deeply shocked".
Headteacher at the 1,180-pupil school Frank McEvoy said: "This has come completely out of the blue.
"Emma was a happy, loving, good-natured and capable pupil who loved both her family and school. She will be sorely missed."
Published Monday January 26, 2004
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