The teenage boy who died suddenly at his school in Co Westmeath yesterday was a "bright and diligent student", his teachers said last night. Fiona Gartlandand Liam Horanreport.
Zeeshan Mohammed was the third schoolboy to die suddenly in the last week.
The 16-year-old was in the playground of Marist College in Athlone when he collapsed shortly after 3pm yesterday.
A teacher came to his assistance and the emergency services were called.
They arrived at the school within minutes and used a defibrillator in an attempt to revive him. He was then rushed to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, but was pronounced dead on arrival there at about 4pm.
A postmortem is to be carried out today to determine the cause of his death.
Zeeshan's death came just three days after 10-year-old Patrick Breen, from the parish of Dregish, Co Tyrone, died after training with his team-mates from Michael Cusack's GAA club.
A doctor treated him at the scene and a defibrillator was used to try to revive him but he was pronounced dead by the time he reached hospital.
Earlier on the same day, Tony Parker (16), Nahad, Mount Temple, died after he collapsed during class at about midday at Moate Community School in Co Westmeath.
Emergency services attempted to revive him, but he was declared dead at the scene.
Zeeshan had been living in Athlone for a number of years with his family.
Originally from Pakistan, he had just finished transition year and had begun fifth year at the 400-pupil college. He had no medical condition that was known to the staff at the school.
He took an active part in student life and had a young brother in first year at the school as well as a sister at the nearby girls' school, Our Lady's Bower.
School staff informed other students at the all-boys' school of the news last night and teachers will be at the school today to offer support.
School principal Tom Blaine said yesterday that the entire community of the Marist College were deeply saddened by the tragic and sudden death.
"The family have requested privacy at this difficult time and we will be respecting that," he said.
One teacher described Zeeshan as an exceptionally bright and diligent student, who got on well at school.
"He was particularly keen on the whole information technology area. He was popular among his fellow students and everyone is just shocked at what has happened," the teacher said.