Kent teen dies in his sleep on school trip to Cuba
A teenager running star has died in his sleep while on a school trip to Cuba.
Alex Holliday, 15, was discovered in his hotel room in Havana after suffering from 'a medical episode' during the night, his school said.
The athletics star, from Tankerton, Kent, was among a group of 34 travelling students and staff from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in nearby Faversham.
Alex had been visiting the country to study marine ecology, before he was found dead in the early hours of Friday.
The keen distance runner had completed more than 100 Parkruns and had also volunteered with the organisation.
Alex Holliday, 15, was discovered in his hotel room in Havana after suffering from 'a medical episode' during the night
Russell Evans, event director for Whitstable Junior Parkrun, said: 'It is with deep, deep sadness that I have to report that Alex Holliday passed away on Friday whilst on a school trip to Cuba.
'Alex was one of us, not just a parkrunner who has completed a 100 runs but also a talented club runner with Invicta East and a Volunteer at Whitstable junior parkrun.
'It was only a couple of weeks ago that Alex completed a three-month placement with us as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and I had the pleasure of completing his form noting how enjoyable it was to have him on board.
'Living so close I decided to drop the form into his letter box and just as I was near his house there he was cycling down the road.
'We had a good chat and he mentioned the trip which he was looking forward to.
'My association with Alex goes back to 2012 when he first started at parkrun and when Mum Sarah asked if I could run with him as he was getting so quick.
'His speed quickly went beyond my capabilities and Alex's times tumbled to the extent that very soon he was mixing it with the frontrunners.
'I cannot even begin to think what the loss of Alex to first and foremost his family must feel like but also his many school friends and fellow athletes at Invicta East.
'The thoughts of us in the Whitstable junior parkrun team are with you all.'
Alex was taking part in a school trip organised through Operation Wallacea (corr), predominantly studying marine ecology.
In line with at least three previous trips, students also take part in scuba diving and habitat explorations, all linked in to research conducted by the University of Havana.
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School head teacher David Anderson described the boy's death as a 'great loss to the school', Kent Live reported.
He said: 'He was a quiet and determined young man with a wonderful sense of humour.
'He enjoyed all aspects of school life and was making good academic progress.
After arriving in year 8, Alex made a lot of close friends, who are all understandably devastated at this news.
'Alex was a wonderful person, unfailingly polite and courteous and keen to engage in the wider life of the school, particularly in sport.
'I recently saw much more of Alex through his participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme where he was making excellent progress.
He added: 'During year 9 Alex campaigned for more money to be spent on road repairs in Whitstable, one of the most successful citizenship projects of recent years, which benefitted many in his local community.
'Alex would have been starting his final year of GCSEs in September and his early passing is a great loss to the school.
'Athletics was Alex's great passion; he was a rapidly improving middle distance runner and his contributions to the school athletics and cross-country teams will be sorely missed.
'He also trained outside school with the Invicta East Kent Athletics Club where he was seen as a rising star.
'Staff, students and Governors at Queen Elizabeth's offer their condolences to Alex's family at this most difficult of times, they are very much in our thoughts.'