Teenager's death while studying a mystery

A 15-year-old student collapsed and died while studying at home.

The Form Three student, whose surname was Cheung, collapsed at about 5pm on Tuesday.

His mother applied ointment to him in an attempt to wake him up, but she could not revive him.

Cheung, who lived in Man Lai Court in Tai Wai, was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital, but was declared dead after doctors' attempts to save him failed.

Dr Peter Pang Kai-mau said he suspected the teenager died because of brain or heart problems.

Pang said it could have been the result of irregular growth of blood vessels in the boy's heart or brain.

The doctor added that Cheung would probably have had some warning symptoms such as a headache or pains in his chest before he collapsed.

Pang said normal medical checkups cannot usually identify these problems.

He said those with persistent pain in the chest and head should consult a specialist.

The actual cause of the teenager's death will not be known until the autopsy results.

Cheung's parents told local media that their son did not have any bad habits and rarely played computer games overnight.

They also said their son was healthy before he collapsed.