A CLOSE family friend has paid tribute to a “lovely lad” who died after collapsing during an after school kick-about in Bexleyheath on Tuesday (February 5).

Philip Lamin, 16, is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest during a friendly five-a-side match in the grounds of Bexleyheath Academy, in Graham Road, at about 4.30pm.

Ambulance staff arrived at the scene within four minutes and made attempts to resuscitate Philip.

He was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich where he was pronounced dead.

Michael Lee, 45, says he was a “very talented footballer” set for trials with Fulham FC U18s once he had finished his GCSEs this summer.

He told News Shopper: “He was a lovely lad: a Christian boy; a very good boy.”

Mr Lee accompanied Philip’s mother Juliet to Bexleyheath Academy yesterday (February 6) to see the tributes left for the teenager.

He said: “We took Juliet up to the school yesterday to look at all the flowers.

“Juliet was very moved.”