THE parents of Okehampton teenager Daniel Yeo, whose death almost two weeks ago shocked the community, have been overwhelmed by the support, cards and letters they have received from people who knew him.
Derek and Sandra Yeo said they had been helped by the many messages of sympathy following the sudden death of their youngest child, who was 17.
Daniel was found dead by his mother at their home in Wonnacotts Road on February 15 after he had been sent home from work because he felt unwell.
But the cause of his death remains a mystery — an initial post-mortem examination did not reveal anything.
Mr Yeo, an Okehampton paramedic, realised his worst nightmare when he responded to the 999 call at his own home.
He said: 'Daniel had a bit of a cough and a cold but it seemed like nothing out of the ordinary — he didn't even have a temperature.
'Daniel was such a fit and healthy teenager we cannot believe that he has gone.'
More than 200 people attended a celebration of Daniel's life on Monday at All Saints Parish Church. Among them was a large contingent from the St John Ambulance, where Daniel was a cadet, and friends and teachers from Okehampton College, where he was a sixth form student.
From a young age, Daniel had his heart set on joining the medical profession — an interest he developed from his father. He was studying an NVQ in nursing and carrying out a work placement at the Castle Hospital in Okehampton.
Mrs Yeo said every parent thought the world of their child but Daniel was a real joy and had never been a problem teenager.
'He was just brilliant and would do anything for anyone — whenever Derek was working in the evening Daniel would always come and keep me company and he was really good company,' she said.
'What is so sad is that he had just got his life together and was looking forward to the future. We have been through every emotion since he died but I feel cheated that he has gone before he had a chance to do everything he wanted.'
Mrs Yeo, who works in Forbuoys in Okehampton, for whom Daniel also did a paper round and helped out, said she kept going over and over what happened in her head.
'I think perhaps if I did not go shopping after work I could have found Daniel before it was too late,' she said. 'He died within two and a half hours of being sent home from work — when I found him in his bedroom I phoned 999 but I knew he had gone.'
The 150 cards which adorn the home of the Yeos are testament to Daniel's popularity.
His mother said she had been touched by everyone's sympathy: 'We can feel it all around us.
'We realise now that Daniel probably knew more people than we did and people have said such wonderful things about him.
'He really was a smashing boy.'
Divisional superintendent of Okehampton St John Ambulance Paul Yelland, 24, said Daniel's death had left everybody who knew him 'devastated and shocked'.
'Daniel was liked by everyone who met him — there was no bad side to him, just good,' he said. 'He was kind, caring, polite and would help anybody at anything.'
He described the teenager, who reached the rank of cadet corporal, as 'an inspiration' for others of his age and was involved in helping run the badgers section of St John and fundraising events.
'He was undoubtedly one of St John's keenest members who had gained respect from all of the other members, both at Okehampton and also at area and county level.
'Daniel will be greatly missed by all but never forgotten.'