Tributes paid to ‘beautiful, fiercely independent’ 16-year-old boy who died at Leeds Festival

16-year-old David Celino died on Sunday morning after being taken to Leeds Festival’s medical tent on Saturday night.

His family have paid tribute to their son, they said: “Our son David was a beautiful, fiercely independent and warm character who lived every day at 110 per cent and who loved to spend time enjoying music with his friends.”

David had just got his GCSE results and into college, his family said he had hoped to study computer science at a top university.

“Leeds Festival was the highlight of his summer; ultimately to take his life in the most unfair, cruel and horrible way, we are broken,” David’s family said.

West Yorkshire Police is conducting enquiries into the death and officers are supporting David’s family. On Sunday the police said it had launched an investigation into a suspected drugs-related death.

Officers were called around 10:16pm on Saturday after David was taken to the event’s medical tent. He was then taken to hospital and died on Sunday morning. Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson of West Yorkshire Police said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the boy who has died, and we have officers supporting them at this very difficult time. While the exact cause of his death is yet to be established, one line of enquiry is that he had taken a particular ecstasy tablet which was described as a grey or black oblong shape.

“At this moment in time this is believed to be an isolated incident as we have not received any similar reports. Users of any drug which is not professionally prescribed can never be sure of their contents and the risks involved with taking the substance. Anyone who does feel ill after taking any substance should seek urgent medical attention.”

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