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Heartbroken family pay tribute to "exceptionally bright" St Ives teen who died of suspected meningitis | The Cornishman

Heartbroken family pay tribute to "exceptionally bright" St Ives teen who died of suspected meningitis | The Cornishman

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Heartbroken family pay tribute to "exceptionally bright" St Ives teen who died of suspected meningitis

By The Cornishman | Posted: November 13, 2014

  • St Ives teenager Teygan Sugrue, who died of suspected meningitis aged just 19.

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A HEARTBROKEN family has paid tribute to their "exceptionally bright" teenage son who died of suspected meningitis after moving away to study at university.

Teygan Sugrue, from St Ives, became unwell suddenly just weeks after relocating to study Russian at the University of Manchester.

It is understood the 19-year-old was found by a friend, who called an ambulance after realising that he was seriously ill on Sunday, November 2.

He was taken to Manchester Royal Infirmary but later died from suspected meningococcal septicaemia.

Parents Ailsa and David, a nurse and GP respectively at Marazion Surgery, have been left devastated by the sudden loss.

"It is the worst thing and just so unexpected. You think your kids are going to be safe. You don't think this is going to happen.

"There was no illness before or in the run-up to it. There is no warning," said Mrs Sugrue.

"He was very gentle. He was quirky, he'd come out with some really hysterical things that would make you laugh.

"We were just happy he had grown up as a really nice person. He was really happy at university. It is comforting he was doing something different and he was up there enjoying it."

The former St Ives School pupil and Truro College student lived in Carbis Bay with his family before they moved to Angarrack around four years ago.

He developed a fascination with the Russian language, which saw him teach himself the alphabet at the age of 14.

His family said he transformed his room labelling everything with Russian words in order to master the language.

Grandparents Simon and Sally Sugrue said he will be sorely missed.

"He was exceptionally bright. He was his own person; he didn't worry too much about what people thought. He was an individual, a one-off," said Mr Sugrue.

Studying Russian was something of a dream fulfilled for the teenager, who was looking forward to spending an exchange year in the country and talked about a career where he could use the language.

Teygan was close to both Katie, 16, and his brother Oli, 22, as well as the numerous cousins who he grew up with.

Katie said: "He was so unique in his own way. He was a brilliant brother. We were very close, he used to tell me a lot of things about girls he liked. He got into languages because he wanted to impress them."

A teenager with many talents, Teygan turned his hand to playing piano, guitar and the banjo.

His former music teacher at St Ives school, Katrina Geraghty, described him as a "joy to teach".

Jenny Veal, first deputy head teacher at St Ives School, added: "I knew him to be quiet and lovely; he was always polite and kind. Our thoughts are with the family at this very sad time."

While they await the official coroner's report into his death, the family said they look forward to the introduction of a meningitis B vaccination.

To help raise awareness a family member is making bracelets emblazoned with the Russian flag in exchange for donations which will be given to charity Meningitis Now.

A fundraiser is also being held At St Andrews Street Bistro on November 30.

A date has yet to be set for the funeral.