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Boy dies celebrating goal
Elizabeth Hopkirk, Evening Standard31 Jul 2008
A teenager collapsed and died in front of his friends as he celebrated scoring the winning goal in a football match.
Team mates tried to revive Daniel Noel and paramedics rushed him to hospital but the 18-year-old died shortly afterwards.
The former Pimlico School pupil was playing in the Camden Unity Cup in Whitfield Street, Fitzrovia, when he fell to the ground on Saturday afternoon.
Doctors are now trying to establish why he died but initial tests showed he had a heart condition. A full post-mortem examination will be held later this week.
Friends and family paid tribute to the teenager, praising him for being a "good boy who never smoke or drank". Mesba Ahmed, director of his team, the London Tigers, said: "Daniel was quite new to the team and he was a sub for a lot of the time at first. I remember him being very calm. Other young people whinge about being subs but he didn't mind. "
The Unity Cup aims to give 700 teenagers from deprived parts of London something to do during the holidays. The tournament had been opened only hours earlier by local MP Frank Dobson.
Family and friends will gather at the scene on Saturday afternoon to observe a minute's silence and make speeches in his memory.
Reader views (1)
A tragic end to a short and no doubt selfless young man. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I'm sure he gave those he knew and loved moments to enrich their lives and they can be grateful that they knew him at all, albeit briefly. Again, my deepest sympathies.
- James M, Los Angeles, USA, 31/07/2008 11:04
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