The parents of a schoolboy who died on a family trip to the beach have paid tribute to their loving son. 

James Poynton, 11, of Waterford Road, Oxon, Wirral, was on Caldy Steps, West Kirby, when he collapsed in his father's arms. 

Despite rescuers' attempts to save him, he died shortly after arriving at Arrowe Park hospital last Friday night. 

The Wirral grammar school for boys pupil suffered a similar attack six week s earlier but doctors said they did not know what was wrong with him. 

When he died, James was on the waiting list for an MRI scan to try to find out what was wrong with him. 

Today his father, Jim Poynton, 49, director of an Oxton printing company said:

"It was a lovely sunny evening and James was walking along with us and his friend. 

"He was happy and skimming stones into the water.  We walked along the beach and he had just finished eating an ice cream when it happened. 

James's mother Ann 47, said: "Everybody liked James.  You couldn't fail to be captivated by his cheeky charm, warmth and lovely cheeky nature. 

"James was such an individual.  He used to style his hair into spikes so friends nicknamed him Spikey for a while. 

"He gave us great pride and joy.  He was clever, witty, handsome and he excelled at everything his turned his hand to. 

"James wouldn't have wanted us to stop - he would want us to carry on as normal." 

Two days after he died, James was due to take part in a charity cycle ride at Arrrowe Park hospital to raise money for leukaemia sufferers. 

His father and 13-year-old sister, Claudia, decided to carry on with the race in James's memory. 

Mr Poynton said: James was a keen cyclist. 

"He used to cycle to work with me every day and then would take the bus to school.  After work he would meet me at the office and we would cycle home. 

"He took part in the Liverpool to Chester bike ride with me and I remember that when he crossed the finishing lien everyone gave him a round of applause because he was so young. 

"James was easy going.  He didn't let6 anything get him down.  If he was here now he would want us to carry on as normal. 

"James was always positive about life.  He encouraged people rather than criticised them and cared more about taking part than winning." 

Mrs Poynton said: "When he passed his exams we were so proud of him and found out that he gave over 93% in his test results but he was so modest about it. 

"One of the lovely things about James was that he could to anyone, young or old.  He was very mature in that way. 

"He knew he wanted to be a car designer when he grew up.  He was car mad and knew about all the different models. 

James was also a very fit and healthy child.  He would always be out of bed early and loved running, rugby, cycling and was an excellent horse rider." 

James was an accomplished guitar player and at his funeral, a family friend will play a song called Girl that the schoolboy wrote when he was nine. 

His uncle, Bob Poynton, 56, said:  "James was a joy.  Everyone who knew him was touched by him. 

"He was such a special young man who was a credit to his parents." 

A memorial service is being planned at James's school. 

Tony Cooper, head teacher of Wirral grammar school for boys, said: "The news came as a sudden shock for everybody at the school. 

"It's terrible that this has happened.  James was a super little boy and I was very fond of him. 

"Pupils at the school will be offered bereavement counselling to try to come to terms with the tragedy but I don't know if it's something you can ever really come to terms with. 

Echo Essentials

Every week in the UK eight apparently fit and healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions. 

National charity Cardiac Risk in the Young was founded in 1995 to raise awareness of the hereditary condition. 

If caught in time, sufferers can be treated with medication or an implantable cardioverter-defibrilllator which can kick-start the heart if there are any abnormal rhythms. 

Symptoms of cardiac attacks include:

Unexplained breathlessness.

Fainting attacks including "dead faints" where the young person does not have time to put their hands out to save them.

Dizziness.

Heart palpitations.

If you feel that your child may be at risk then you should:

Keep a record of incidents that you feel are abnormal over the next few weeks. 

Contact your GP immediately.

If your GP will not refer them to a hospital for ECG and ECHO tests, contact CRY chief executive Alison Cox on 01737 363 222.

For pro-active, post-puberty screening, contact CRY screening officer Mat Wilson on 0208 423 7200.