Teenager's death remains a mystery

A 17-year-old’S death remains a mystery after he was found lifeless in bed on Christmas morning.

Peter Pickup had no underlying health conditions other than asthma and showed no sign of injury.

And, while his father described him as “fit as a fiddle”, tests are now being carried out to try to determine what caused his death.

Peter, who was an only child, had been to midnight mass on Chirstmas Eve and had been posting messages on social networking site Facebook as late as 2am.

He was discovered about seven hours later and despite desperate attempts by the couple, who are both members of St John Ambulance, and other paramedics, to save him, he was pronounced dead on Christmas Day at his home in Almondbury, Huddersfield.

His distraught mother Margaret said: “It’s a mystery. He had been playing out in the snow like a two-year-old on Christmas Eve. When I found him in bed, he had a big grin on his face and I thought he was messing around. I tried to wake him up, but I just couldn’t.”

His father Stephen, 79, added: “We have lost our best friend and we have been asking the question ‘why?’ It’s like our most precious possession has been pinched.”

The St John Ambulance cadet had been studying travel and tourism and hoped to become a customs officer, having visited New Zealand, Kenya and Israel.

Mrs Pickup, 61, added: “He wasn’t a typical teenager. He was very caring and loved helping people. He could be a bit of a mischief, but he was never really naughty.”

Peter’s former Sunday school teacher Alastair McKinna said: “Peter was a very quiet young man, but he had quite a presence. Every now and again he would come out with something quite profound.”

Other friends have been adding condolences to his Facebook page.

Peter’s death followed a similar tragedy in York.

Kyle Mcfadyean, 18, died of a stroke on Christmas Day. His family, of Haxby, described him as popular and fun-loving.