Community united in grief for young Khalid

Friends and family plaster garage with messages of love and support after tragedy

A community shocked by the sudden death of a young boy has plastered his home with messages of condolence. 

The impromptu shrine to 10-year-old Khalid Sibley started with a few notes from his family and friends, but now it has become a wall of grief with fresh messages added every day.  Handwritten notes, photographs and poems cover nearly every inch of the garage door at Khalid’s home in Fulmer Walk, Wecock. 

The youngster, affectionately known as K by his family and Kay by some friends, died nine days ago, just weeks after his 10^th birthday. 

The tributes are some comfort to his mother, Tracy Sibley, and his family, but they can find little peace as the circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery. 

Mrs Sibley’s last memory of Khalid is of him telling her “I love you”, giving her a kiss on the cheek and rushing out the door to play with friends.  The next day he collapsed and died while watching banger racing with friends. 

The results of a post-mortem examination were inconclusive and further tests are being conducted to determine the cause of death. 

Mrs Sibley fears that it might have been an undetected heart condition. 

“There was never a dull moment with K,” she said.  “He lived for his mates are was always getting up to all sorts of mischief,” she said. 

“K was a real joker – and I keep thinking I’m going to see his beaming smile and deep brown eyes whenever I think about him.” 

Khalid died on Monday, August 30 while watching banger racing at the Hazleton Farm track, in Horndean, with his friends.  He collapsed as he ran alongside a car and despite efforts to resuscitate him he was pronounced dead at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham. 

Khalid, who suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, was due to start at Trosnant Junior School, Stockheath Lane, Havant, in a couple of weeks. 

His death has left his mother, and his three siblings, Jonny, 16, Sophie, 13 and Sarah, 18, devastated. 

Mrs Sibley, 36, said: “I never had a chance to say goodbye properly.  I remember him rushing up to me, giving me a big kiss, telling me he loved me and then rushing out to play with some friends. 

“I did not see him the next morning as he went straight to watch the banger racing with some mates.” 

“Now I just wish I had been with him at the race track and I could have held his hand when he needed me.” 

As a final act of love, Mrs Sibley will bring Khalid’s coffin back home on the eve of his funeral on September 16. 

She said: “I want him to spend his last night in comfortable surroundings.” 

An inquest into Khalid’s death was opened on September 3 and has been adjourned to a later date. 

The charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) says Khalid could have died from Sudden Cardiac Death.  It says heart conditions claim the lives of eight young, apparently fit and healthy people each week. 

Alison Cox, the charity’s founder and chief executive, said: “These conditions lie undetected and then suddenly strike, often with no symptoms or warning signs.” 

The charity works to raise awareness of possible heart problems and defects in young people.