A 12-year-old kid who died tragically while playing with his classmates at school in Essex told his family ‘I love you’ as he left his house for the last time.

Ryan Heffernan, 12, slumped at Shoeburyness High School on Monday and died shortly after.

Despite the fact that emergency personnel, including an air ambulance, were dispatched to the scene, Ryan was pronounced dead a short time later.

Following Monday’s horrific events, fellow students at the school are being assisted by specialised counsellors.

Floral tributes have been placed beneath the school’s entrance sign, where Ryan had been a student since September.

A GoFundMe campaign set up by the youngster’s family to help with the expense of his burial has raised more than £14,000.

Friends and classmates at Shoeburyness High School have paid their respects to the late scholar.

‘Fly high,’ one letter says, while another says, ‘I didn’t know you, but I pray you rest in peace.’ Meanwhile, a friend has put up an online fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to aid Ryan’s parents, Mike and Catherine, with the expense of Ryan’s burial.

The fundraiser has so far garnered more than £14,000.

‘Ryan was a 12-year-old kind-hearted, cheerful, full-of-life little kid,’ according to a statement on the website. He departed for school on Monday, healthy and smiling, saying ‘I love you’ to his family (This was the last thing he said to them).

‘He was a year 7 student on his lunch break in his first year of senior school when he was tragically kidnapped.’ No parent should have to go through this; I can’t image how difficult it must be to digest.’

Essex Police have opened an inquiry into his death, which has been characterised as “unexplained,” and have ruled out any third-party involvement.

Essex Police District Commander Ian Hughes earlier stated, ‘I would like to extend my sympathies to the boy’s family and we are doing everything we can to help them through this awful and difficult period.’ Our officers are still visiting the school at this moment to conduct further investigations.

‘We will continue our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death and will collaborate with the school tomorrow.’ We are aware of social media remarks, and we want to reassure the local community and parents of students at the school that no knife was used during this unfortunate event.’

Southend City Council has also said that they are assisting the school and the family. ‘Our sympathies are very much with the family and the whole school,’ said a representative.