Boy, 15, dies after his bike hits a deer in East Yorkshire

A TEENAGER has died after crashing his bicycle in a freak accident when a deer jumped out in front of him in East Yorkshire.

Ben Madden, 15, spent four days in a coma following his encounter with the animal on a quiet country lane near his home in Brough.

Police said they understood Ben collided with a deer while cycling. He fell and suffered serious head injuries when he hit the road. Officers were unsure about whether he was wearing a helmet.

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The accident happened at about 2pm last Tuesday and Ben died at Hull Royal Infirmary in the early hours of Sunday.

Hundreds of tributes have been paid to the teenager, a pupil at South Hunsley school, who was a keen footballer.

A page on the social networking website Facebook has been set up by his friends and already has more than 2,200 members.

Family member Danielle Madden said in her online tribute: “RIP Ben. I will never forget you. The family won’t be the same without you. You are always in my heart and I am always thinking of you.”

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Humberside Police confirmed Ben died at the hospital after spending time in a coma.

A spokesman said: “Humberside Police were called by the ambulance service at 2.10pm on Tuesday, July 26, reporting a 15-year-old boy who had fallen from his bike, sustaining serious head injuries. It is believed the boy was cycling down Elloughton Dale and fell from his bike after a collision with a deer.

“The boy was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary for treatment but sadly died from his injuries in the early hours of Sunday.”

Cobi Arnett, who helped set up the Facebook page, said he would never forget his friend. “Mate, I really miss you and will always be here to remember you and all the memories we have had,” he wrote. “Reading through our texts has made me so happy to know you were always there for me. Thank you for our memories; they will live on forever.”

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Josh Shafei, another friend, recalled how Ben had gone out of his way to make him feel welcome when he started school, and that they became so close they were like brothers.

He said: “I remember the first day I started at Welton in year four and you welcomed me straight away. I remember when we used to get in moods when we weren’t on each other’s side for football and when we used to make up nicknames for each other.

“I will miss you forever. You weren’t just a friend, you were a brother and I will never, ever forget you.”

Football was a recurring theme. Chris Cable wrote: “You taught me all those tricks to take out defenders because I’m a midget striker. Love you Ben, you’ll never be forgotten by me or anybody else.”

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Others who did not know him personally admired his skill on the field.

Dan Wilkinson said: “I didn’t know you but I remember playing football against you and you were a class player.”

Others spoke of a fun-loving boy who always seemed happy.

Sophie Brown said: “Miss you so much already Ben. You never failed to make me smile and our little mischievous times were so funny.”

Becky Hirst added: “It’s not fair how the worst things happen to the best people. I promise you will never be forgotten.”

Ben lived with his mother Kate, father Darren and sister Evie. Friends will gather for a memorial event in Swanland later this month.