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Mourners have paid tribute to the football-mad schoolboy who collapsed and died of heart failure while playing the game at school.
Andrew MacKinnon, 15, was playing football when he became unwell on the pitch at Forrester High School in Edinburgh on April, 14, in the afternoon and died from heart failure.
His death left the local community feeling ‘deeply shocked’, Reverend Michael Mair told the service at St David’s Broomhouse Parish Church in the city on Friday.
He said: ‘When the news broke that Andrew had collapsed and died while playing football at school with close friends, there was a deep sense of shock, sadness and disbelief that something like this could happen to someone so young.
‘We opened the doors of our church that night because we wanted to provide a place for people to gather, light a candle and reflect on this terrible tragedy, and we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of grief from his friends and family.’
Andrew MacKinnon, 15, was playing football when he became unwell on the pitch at school in Edinburgh on April, 14, in the afternoon and died from heart failure
Mourners paid tribute to the football-mad schoolboy who collapsed and died of heart failure while playing the game at Forrester High School, Edinburgh
His death left the local community feeling ‘deeply shocked’, Reverend Michael Mair told the service at St David’s Broomhouse Parish Church in the city on Friday
The community ‘immediately’ rallied around his devastated family by starting a GoFundMe online fundraising campaign for them, with more than £30,000 being raised so far.
A group of Andrew’s friends also organised a car wash event to raise money for a memorial for him.
Andrew was described as a ‘lovable rogue’ by Mr Mair, and a teenager who was affectionate and unafraid of showing and telling people how he felt about them.
‘To his friends he was fiercely loyal and hated injustice,’ he added.
‘He was always willing to back them up and stand with them in whatever challenge lay before them.
‘When Andrew collapsed, he had just finished playing a game of football with some close friends and it is testament to their friendship that they refused to leave his side.
Emergency services rushed to the Broomhouse Road area of Edinburgh following the incident at Forrester High School but despite extensive efforts, paramedics were unable to save Andrew
The community ‘immediately’ rallied around his devastated family by starting a GoFundMe online fundraising campaign for them, with more than £30,000 being raised so far
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A book of remembrance has been opened to enable people to record their memories of Andrew and send messages of condolence to his family
‘To the community at large, he was a lad with a cheeky smile, always with a football under his arm or by his feet and up to some kind of mischief, which was never with malice.’
Andrew was a member of Salvesen Community Football Club for 10 years.
He left behind his sisters Aimee and Rachel, his mother Janine Dow, his father Andrew MacKinnon, and his stepfather Gary Weir.
Andrew was a passionate Hearts fan and Mr Mair said there ‘was not a chant he did not know’.
Mr Mair added: ‘He was proud to be a season ticket holder and his family say that his only regret would have been not seeing them when they won a major championship.
‘It is a time of great sadness for all those who love him as they try to come to terms with his loss.
‘Family, football, friends and his girlfriend were the most important things in Andrew’s life, according to his mates.
‘He enjoyed singing and dancing, he was precious and irreplaceable.
‘Our hearts are broken this day.
‘As we say farewell to Andrew, we will reflect on all that he has meant to us, all he means to God and all of the ways that he has impacted our lives.’
Former Hearts player Gary Locke and Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry were among those to attend.
A book of remembrance has been opened to enable people to record their memories of Andrew and send messages of condolence to his family.
Emergency services rushed to the Broomhouse Road area of Edinburgh following the incident at Forrester High School but despite extensive efforts, paramedics were unable to save Andrew.
The teenager is understood to have had a history of heart disease.
Police and ambulances were spotted in the area shortly after 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, March 14.
The gifted footballer and huge Hearts fan, who played for Salvesen blues 07s, leaves sisters Aimee and Rachel, 20 and 17, mother Janine Dow, 48, father, also Andrew MacKinnon, 40, and stepfather Gary Weir, 55.
A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed the death and added: ‘On Tuesday, March 14, police were called to a report of a 15-year-old boy having collapsed on Broomhouse Road. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
