AS the Edney family mourn the loss of 'son to be proud of' Kieren, they are still waiting to learn for certain if it was meningitis that led to the 21-year-old's death.

The teaching assistant at Melksham Oak School died in an ambulance on the way to Bath's Royal United Hospital, less than 24 hours after complaining of a sore throat.

In an emotional tribute this week, his dad Dale, 51, mum Louise, 51, and sisters Estelle, 25, and Robyn, 19, said they have been overwhelmed by the vast amount of love and support they have received since the horrific events of last Tuesday, when they woke to realise he was seriously ill.

"He was a son to be very proud of, a wonderful person. Wherever he went he would leave a positive impact on a person or place. He was very special," said Mrs Edney.

"I do not think he would have understood all the support we have been getting. I can imagine he would have said, 'Why all this fuss over me?'"

Mr Edney added: "He was more popular than we ever knew. We have just been blown away by this phenomenal support. He was a gentleman, just so polite and extremely kind."

Keiren, who lived with his family next to their Fisheries chip shop in Union Street, Melksham, had complained of a sore throat on the Monday night but otherwise seemed fine.

"At around 8am the next morning, when he was getting up for work, Robyn told me to come see him quickly as he had turned a 'funny colour'," said Mrs Edney.

"His skin had turned a purple/blue colour and I knew something was very wrong. Surprisingly he was still lucid, he said, 'Why are you calling 999?'.

"Within 10 minutes he was walking down the stairs. The paramedics put him on a stretcher and took him into the ambulance and we went with him.

"On the way his heart stopped beating and they were unable to revive him. They announced his passing just after 11am. The ambulance crew and hospital staff tried everything but unfortunately they were unable to start his heart again.

"We are still waiting for the emergency services to tell us what caused it."

Keiren, who went to Melksham Oak and Forest & Sandridge Primary, began working alongside his former teachers in September 2015.

"He found it a little strange but also exciting going back to his old school to teach, being contemporaries with his former teachers," said Mrs Edney.

"At the start he kept calling them 'Sir' or 'Miss'. But he had a wonderful rapport with the pupils. He talked to them on their level and they respected him for that.

"He loved what he did. He loved coaching and he was very good at it."

Another huge part of his life was football. Dubbed the 'the big friendly giant' by his football coach colleagues, Keiren, who spent four years at Wiltshire College completing coaching courses after his GCSEs, enjoyed many years at the Charlie Austin Football School.

"He was football mad. It was his life and passion. He had been a huge Arsenal fan for as long as I can remember," added Mrs Edney.

"Keiren was funny, he had a wicked sense of humour and he had a wonderful girlfriend in Lydia who he dated for four years. She was a huge part of his life, they just adored each other."

Both the football school and Melksham Oak are putting together tributes in his memory.

An inquest into the death is due to be opened next week.