Community rallies for heartbroken family after much loved 10-year-old boy collapses

Tributes have flowed for a football obsessed young boy who never got to live his dream of playing AFL. His story.

Declan Sproule, 10, who collapsed at his Risdon Vale home with is older brother Eric and sister Thea. Picture Supplied

The local community is rallying around the family of an energetic and much loved 10-year-old boy who collapsed and passed suddenly at home.

Hundreds gathered to remember Declan Sproule at his funeral on Thursday with his grandmother Sally Burgess saying “everybody loved him”.

“Declan was a really happy kid, really friendly and full of life.

“Everyone who met him loved him. He was obsessed over football.”

Declan’s sudden passing on November 14 was from an undetected medical condition.

“It came as a shock to us all because he was full of energy.”

Mrs Burgess said Declan had recently had a chest infection and a cough that would not go away.

Declan Sproule, 10, who collapsed at his Risdon Vale home. Picture Supplied

She said his older brother Eric, 12, had spent his first three-and-a-half years in hospital undergoing many surgeries for bowel problems.

Declan’s parents, Lyndon Sproule-Burgess and Casey Sproule, also have Thea, 8 and Anakin, 2.

“They’ve had a rough trot,” Mrs Burgess said.

“It’s been hard, and because it happened at home, none of them will go back home.

“They can’t face going to the house.”

The family are staying with her and she hopes they will be able to move to another home.

Mrs Burgess said Declan loved school and motorbikes but football was his obsession.

He barracked for Geelong and one day dreamed of playing in the AFL.

Declan Sproule, 10, who collapsed at his Risdon Vale home. Picture Supplied

“His parents had enrolled him to start playing football this coming season for Lindisfarne.

“But he didn’t get a chance. He reckoned he was going to be an AFL star and his idol was (Geelong captain) Patrick Dangerfield.

“He also wanted to be a rap star like his uncles.”

His aunty has set up a GoFundMe page to help towards Declan’s funeral expenses.

The staff and volunteers at Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre have paid tribute to him and in a social media post they said they were “heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Declan”.

“We will miss his radiant smile, boxing tips, and explanation of 6-7,” the Facebook post said.

“We all pass on our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

“Let us as a community offer any support we can during this difficult time.”

Originally published as Community rallies for heartbroken family after much loved 10-year-old boy collapses