SOME mornings Juliet Lamin wakes up and still expects her son Philip to come in at 7.10am on the dot asking for his school dinner money.
But then it floods home to her why he won’t be knocking on her bedroom door as she remembers the awful day on February 5 when the 16-year-old collapsed and died during an after school kickaround.
The promising young footballer had just scored a goal when he fell to the floor at Goals Soccer Centre near theBexleyheath Academy grounds after suffering a heart attack.
Juliet still finds herself waking up thinking Philip will bound in before his journey to school from the home she shared with him in Gordon Road, Belvedere.
She told News Shopper: “There are times when I just automatically wake up and get ready to give him his dinner money.
“It’s something that has been going on for ages so my body still reacts to that. Then I wake up and say ‘it’s not going to happen’.
“Sometimes I get it and but sometimes I still don’t believe he’s gone. They say time makes it better but I’m waiting.”
The drug and alcohol support worker has tried to stay strong for Philip’s many friends who have also been a great comfort to her in the four months since her son’s death.
Miss Lamin is trying to stay strong for her son's friends.
She said: “Philip’s passion was for his friends.
“He was a very giving person and he would have sacrificed his life for his friends. That is the legacy he has left behind.
“They have been so amazing which has helped to take some pain away from me.”
"I have never seen them as a community of young boys as they have just grown up within a few weeks and have become men."
Miss Lamin says she will focus “for the rest of her life” on a foundation in Philip’s name to raise awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest.
She said: “I want to minimise the deaths of young people full of potential.
“I wouldn’t want any other mother to go through what I have. Not having a chance to say goodbye is just too much.”
“He is my only son so there is no other son to fall back on.
“We have been the best of friends for 16 years. We were never separated from each other and were together all that time.”
Friends of Philip raised £3,000 in a week to go towards his funeral.
Another tragic loss
The death of Bexleyheath Academy year 11 pupil Jamie-Leigh Lynch four months to the day after Philip Lamin’s passing has left the school reeling once again.
Miss Lamin has spent time talking to those struggling to come to terms with two sudden deaths in the same year group in such a short space of time.
She has visited the school and hosts a forum for young people every Friday evening at Nando’s restaurant in Bexleyheath.
Miss Lamin told News Shopper: “The unfortunate thing is some of the young people were at Philip’s graveside in Welling cemetery when they received the news. “I can’t make sense of it myself and I told them I wish I had the answers.
“It is very challenging for me but I have to be strong for them.
“I have just got to carry them through because they need me to support them.
“I feel privileged that they trust me and are able to talk to me.”
A football match in Philip's memory is being held on Sunday, June 23, at 2pm at the Erith and Parkwood Community Leisure Centre in Avenue Road.
Tickets are £3 for students and £5 adults and are available on the day or by calling Tracey Boswell at Bexleyheath Academy on 0208 3035696.
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