A SCHOOL has paid tribute to a teenager who died suddenly while taking part in a cross-country run.

Teaching staff carried out CPR on 17 year old Jack Sheriff after he collapsed during the run at Hylands Park in Chelmsford but he was confirmed dead at the scene by a doctor.

Jack was in the sixth form at Moulsham High School in Chelmsford and head teacher Dr Chris Nicholls described him as “full of energy and enthusiasm.”

Dr Nicholls said staff and pupils at the school were very upset and subdued.

“He had been with us since he was 11 and was studying his A Levels.

“He wanted to pursue a career as an artist and was in the process of applying to colleges to do a foundation course.

“Ironically he was very althletic, a rugby player and a very good swimmer.”

“He was also a Duke of Edinburgh silver award student who got involved and joined in. He was a happy and cheerful student.”

Dr Nicholls said two teachers - head of PE at Moulsham and another from St Martin’s School in Brentwood - had tried to resuscitate him.

He said the full results of the post mortem were not yet known but it appeared he had died of a heart attack.

Flowers and a Leciester City Football Club flag - the team Jack supported - were left outside of the school gates over the weekend following his death on Friday afternoon.

Dr Nicholls said Jack who lived in Little Baddow was an only child and part of a close, loving family.

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said: “We were called at 3.14pm to Hylands Park following reports that a boy in his late teens had collapsed.

“A rapid response unit, land ambulance and the air ambulance attended the scene. The boy was found to be in cardiac arrest and full CPR was carried out with the help of a doctor on the scene but unfortunately the teenager was confirmed dead at the scene.”