Tragedy as boy, 12, dies after telling parents he would 'rest in bed'

A 12-year-old boy, Tomas Remeikis, tragically passed away just days after developing a cough and fever, leaving his family and community heartbroken. His father, Andrius Remeikis, shared the emotional story of his son's sudden decline and the life he lived before his untimely death.

Tomas had been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension when he was a young child, a condition that affects the blood vessels in the lungs and puts pressure on the right side of the heart. This diagnosis followed the discovery of a hole in his heart, found by a doctor in Lithuania after Tomas began showing signs of fatigue and breathlessness during a visit to see his grandparents. His grandfather noticed that Tomas, then about two and a half or three years old, was unusually tired while riding a scooter and urged his parents to get him checked. The diagnosis led to urgent surgery, which was successful.

Despite the seriousness of his condition, Tomas went on to live a seemingly normal and active life. He took medication daily and had regular check-ups at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, but showed no major issues. He was physically active—cycling to school and practicing taekwondo twice a week. He had a few fainting episodes, usually during intense taekwondo training, but medical tests showed everything was stable.

Originally from Manchester, Tomas and his family moved to Southport two years ago—a dream they had cherished. According to Andrius, the move was joyful, and Tomas quickly made new friends at his school and taekwondo classes. Known for being kind, polite, and friendly, Tomas was well-liked by everyone who met him.

Around a week before his death, Tomas developed a cough and a temperature. However, he soon began feeling better, even returning to school and cycling with his mother to watch his younger brother play football. He was excited about the upcoming weekend and had planned to join his father for a car boot sale.

But on the morning of the Bank Holiday Monday, things took a sudden and tragic turn. Tomas told his father he wasn’t feeling well and went to lie down. Later that day, he got up, had some tea, and said he was feeling slightly better. Then, out of nowhere, his condition worsened rapidly. His mother noticed that his lips were turning blue, and when Tomas cried out for help, they immediately called an ambulance.

The emergency services arrived quickly, and Tomas was taken to the hospital, but despite their efforts, he passed away. A post-mortem revealed that his heart had failed, but the exact cause of death will be determined at an inquest. Earlier in the year, Tomas had undergone thorough testing in London, and doctors were pleased with his health, making his sudden death all the more shocking.

Tomas is survived by his mother Inesa, father Andrius, and younger brother Lukas. His funeral was held at Holy Family Church on Brompton Road and was attended by friends from his schools, taekwondo class, and even friends he had made through online gaming. One of his online friends from Ireland even flew in with his father to say goodbye.

The family has requested that donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association in Tomas’s memory, in recognition of the support they received during his life. They have also agreed to donate Tomas’s heart for medical research in hopes of helping others.

Remembering his son, Andrius said:

"Tomas was kind, friendly, loving, and outgoing. He really got along with everyone he met. Anyone who spent time with him loved him."