FRIENDS and family have been left shocked and devastated by the sudden death of teenager Stephen Ruggier.

Trainee motor mechanic Stephen Ruggier, 17, suffered from an undetected fatal heart condition and died at his home in Iford earlier this month just a few days short of his 18th birthday.

A former student at the Grange School in Christchurch, Stephen was a life-long car enthusiast and had just started his second year at Bournemouth College, where he was training to be a mechanic.

"He had a life to lead and was leading it. It is such a waste," said his devastated mother Debbie.

It was Mrs Ruggier who raised the alarm when she checked on Stephen after going upstairs to bed and hearing the television still on in his room.

She found Stephen, who had been treated for suspected tonsillitis a few days earlier, had stopped breathing and was turning blue.

Despite repeated efforts by ambulance crews using defibrillators and adrenalin injections he could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Doctors later told Mrs Ruggier that Stephen had suffered a sudden arrythmic death which could have occurred at any time, and that his heart had simply stopped beating.

She said: "There was nothing anyone could have done. We never knew he had this problem. Stephen was a fit young man and why would he need to have his heart tested? It is so unfair."

"He was a bright lad, well liked with lots of friends and always had a smile on his face," added Mrs Ruggier, who with her husband Mark has two other sons, Daniel, 15, and three-year-old Jack, whom Stephen doted on.

Stephen's funeral takes place at Christchurch Priory tomorrow at 1.30pm.

Mrs Ruggier said: "Stephen's life was in Christchurch and he loved going to the quay there. All his mates are in Christchurch and we expect quite a lot of people will be there."

First published: Oct 25