A Blackburn boy described as an ambassador for the disabled with "star quality" has died - the day after being sent away with tablets for a suspected throat infection.

The parents of Damien Sweet, 14, who was born with serious disabilities, have spoken of the shock of the sudden death of their "one in a million son".

Damien's picture can be seen around Blackburn as he was one of the faces of the council's Belonging to Blackburn Campaign, which aimed to encourage the borough to unite.

And his headteacher at Blackburn's Newfield Special School, who nominated Damien for the poster campaign, described him as having "star quality" due to his "spirit and determination".

Damien died after failing ill with stomach pains last Monday.

His parents, of Queen's Road, Blackburn, initially took him to Royal Blackburn Hospital where they say he was given painkillers and sent home.

By the next day Elizabeth said Damien had not slept or eaten so she took him to Shadsworth Surgery, where they say he was given antibiotics for a throat infection.

Elizabeth sat with Damien into the early hours of Wednesday morning before returning to hospital convinced her son was seriously poorly.

But he died later that day from heart failure after suffering continual breathing problems.

Damien was born with club feet, a cleft lip, Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip known as clicky hip and a hole in his heart.

He had a pacemaker fitted for his heart condition and it is thought this may have been connection to his death, according to his parents.

The East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has launched an investigation into Damien's death.

Damien's parents say they do not want to blame anyone for not spotting what was wrong with their son, but just to understand what went wrong.

His dad, Andrew, 36 added: "He had come on leaps and bounds. I can't believe this has happened when he was doing so well.

"It makes it so much harder to deal with. We just want to know what happened."

Elizabeth and Andrew said they felt Damien had been snatched from them just when he had started to make significant progress at the school, in particular at walking with sticks.

Mum Elizabeth said Damien had never let his disabilities hold him back and, even though he could not speak, he lived life to the full.

Elizabeth, 38 said: "You could always count on Damien to cheer you up.

"If you were down you just had to spend some time with him and you'd feel better.

"You'd hear him before you saw him. He was loud and full of energy.

"We would take him to the park every day. It was his favourite part of the day.

"The dog walkers knew him and would say hello. He couldn't talk back but he was very well known.

"When he was in hospital the nurses used to fight over him. He would hug you so tight he almost strangled you. He was a very happy child."

Damien also leaves a sister, Tela, 17 and brother Andrew, 18.

Newfield headteacher Jane Barrie said the pupils and staff were deeply saddened.

She added: "I was asked to nominate someone for the Belonging to Blackburn Campaign and I thought of Damien immediately.

"His spirit and determination made him an ambassador of disabilities and of Blackburn. He had star quality.

"I was privileged to know him and he was a pleasure to teach."

Linda Whitfield, head of patient experience for medicine/A&E at the East Lancashire Hospital's Trust said an investigation would be carried out into Damien's death.

She added "I would again like to express my condolences to Damien's family for their sad loss.

"We understand that there will be a coroner's inquest to determine the cause of Damien's death and we will be assisting with the coroner's inquiries."

A funeral is being held tomorrow where his coffin will have four balloons attached to it because of his love for balloons and bright colours.