FOUR days after a 12-year-old Morecambe schoolgirl collapsed and died during a PE lesson, her parents still don't know what caused her death writes Julie Seddon. Nicola Pace, a pupil at Lancaster's Ripley St Thomas school, died at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary only hours after falling over during a cross country run on Monday. Parents Kevin and Julie, of Lordsome Road in Morecambe, spoke to the Citizen this week about their eldest daughter who brought so much love, laughter and pride into their lives.

Kevin told us: "Nicola had so much zest and enthusiasm for life. She was well respected both as an 'A' pupil and for her love of sport. She was a normal healthy child with no physical problems.

"Nicola's two sisters Victoria, 10 and Fiona, six, have also been devastated by the news.

"I just don't know how we are going to get through it. School friends have been coming round with cards and sympathy. Apparently Ripley chapel is bursting with flowers from everyone and children have also put flowers at the place where she fell."

Nicola was a keen Girl Guider and spent much of her time helping out with the local Brownies. Her ambition was to become a solicitor.

"She was a bright girl, and one day she asked me if solicitors made a lot of money so I think she'd set her sights on becoming one," added Kevin.

Ripley headteacher Jim Lailey described Nicola as an "exemplary" pupil.

He said: "She was an exceptionally popular and able girl with a lovely nature. She lightened up everyone's life and gave so much to others."

An inquest was opened into Nicola's death yesterday (July 3) by North Lancashire coroner George Howson after a post-mortem failed to pinpoint the cause of death.

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