Tears and tributes for a special young man

Community at a standstill as 10-year-old is remembered at a moving funeral service.

A procession of mourners brought the streets of Wecock to a standstill as they said farewell to a young boy. 

Khalid Sibley’s sudden death, just weeks after this 10^th birthday, shocked his community. 

Yesterday hundreds of his friends and family descended on his home to remember the youngster affectionately known as K. 

Some had already paid tribute to the boy with messages left at the family’s home. 

His coffin, which was draped with a flag of his favourite football team, Manchester United, was taken from his house in Fulmer Walk by a horse-drawn carriage.  The cortege headed out of Fulmer Walk for the Living Waters Church followed by a sea of mourners. 

His grief-stricken mother, Tracy, led the procession as it made its way slowly to the church, in Kite Close, Wecock. 

The white coffin was brought in to the church to the sounds of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Eva Cassidy. 

The service was then led by the Rev. Martin Mant, who welcomed the mourners to what he called a celebration of Khalid’s life. 

He said: “Today is a sad day but we have come here to remember the good times we spent with Khalid. 

"Khalid has died far too soon.  He was a very special young man we are all privileged to have known him."

For many members of the congregation the tragedy of Khalid’s death was too much and they broke down in tears as messages and tributes left by friends of the family were read out.  And a succession of Khalid’s friends, neighbours and family recounted stories about the youngster while standing by his open coffin. 

Faris Sibley, 11, fought back tears to tell of his love for his cousin. 

He said: "I wish we could just have five minutes with you. 

"We may have fallen out a few times, but we always made up afterwards. 

"You brought us so much happiness.  We will miss you so much." 

Khalid’s sister Sophie, 13, added: "Since you are gone the spark in my eye has gone too.  We miss you so much K. 

"And I love you so much – we will never forget you.  Rest in peace."

Khalid collapsed and died on Monday, August 30, while watching banger racing at the Hazleton Farm track, in Horndean, with his friends. 

Boy’s sudden death remains a mystery

Khalid Sibley’s sudden death remains a mystery and his family are struggling to understand why a seemingly healthy young boy died.  The youngster collapsed on August 30 while watching banger racing at Hazleton Farm in Horndean with his friends. 

He was rushed to Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, by paramedics but he never regained consciousness. 

Results of a post-mortem examination were inconclusive and, at present, further tests are being conducted to help determine what the exact cause of the death was. 

The charity – Cardiac Risk in the Young – believes that Khalid may have died as a result of undetected heart condition. 

CRY claims that every week in the UK eight healthy young people are killed as a result of Sudden Cardiac Death.