A FUN-LOVING teenager died despite desperate attempts to revive him after an asthma attack, an inquest heard.
Bobby Naldini, from Caterham was taken to East Surrey Hospital on March 4 last year after suffering a severe asthma attack at his home.
But the de Stafford School pupil tragically passed away, aged 13.
According to his mother Hayley, who did not attend the court but provided a statement which was read out, Bobby's asthma had become more of an issue in recent years when he had been taken to A&E in need of treatment more regularly.
In the statement she described the events leading up to her son's death.
She said Bobby had been feeling unwell in the afternoon and had been complaining of a headache and stomach ache.
He had continued to feel unwell after getting home from his dad's house, and later Mrs Naldini noticed he wasn't breathing properly and phoned for an ambulance.
A witness statement from Christopher Neal, one of the paramedics, described how Bobby had to be helped to the ambulance.
"We arrived at 9.03pm. Bobby was sitting on the sofa and was having breathing difficulties.
"He needed to be taken to hospital very quickly; from a paramedic view he appeared to be having a very bad asthma attack. We assisted Bobby to the ambulance."
Mr Neal's statement went on to describe how Bobby became unconscious in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and the paramedics administered CPR.
Speaking to the Mirror at the time of her son's death, Mrs Naldini said Bobby had always had weak lungs and suffered from asthma all his life.
She said her son loved swimming, tennis and computer games – he had bought himself a PlayStation3 with his Christmas money. He wanted to pursue a career in forensic science.
De Stafford head teacher Caroline Longhurst described Bobby as very popular with his fellow students and members of staff.
The only witness to be called during the proceedings was Dr Michael Ashworth, consultant paediatric pathologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He confirmed Bobby had died from cardiac failure as a result of acute bronchial asthma.
Assistant deputy coroner Martin Fleming summed up his findings: "It's clear since being a baby he suffered from asthma which was a big factor in him becoming increasingly unwell.
"On the night, upon the arrival of the paramedics he went in to cardiac arrest," he continued.
"Bobby suffered from acute bronchial asthma and it's more likely than not that Bobby died from natural causes.
"The circumstances he experienced must be devastating and must be a very hard time for the family to have to deal with."
