HEARTBROKEN parents of a four-year-old boy who died suddenly have spoken of their struggle to come to terms with the tragedy.

Ryan Barrett (pictured) was taken ill at his Eastburn home and taken to the Emergency Department at Airedale Hospital, but died within hours.

His parents, Mark and Kelly Barrett, said they struggled to comprehend what had happened to their “popular and fun-loving” youngest child.

And they paid tribute to the overwhelming support they had received from the community since his death.

“We cannot thank people enough – everyone has been fantastic,” said Kelly, 36.

Initially they couple, who have five other children, were told Ryan’s death may have been due to an aggressive virus.

But A post-mortem examination revealed that his death in December was due to a twisted intestine.

Since the death the family has donated bird baths and feeders to Eastburn Pre-School, where he attended, and Eastburn Junior & Infant School, where three of his siblings are pupils.