THE parents of a teenage boy who died from an epileptic fit say they were told he was suffering from "night traumas" and would grow out of them.
Ryan Houghton, 16, was found dead in bed at his family's home in Bransholme.
His parents Stephen Houghton and Shirley Fuller say they have been left devastated by their son's unexpected death.
Factory worker Mr Houghton, 48, said: "Ryan had never been diagnosed with epilepsy.
"He had his first seizure when he was seven-years -old, but we were told he was suffering from night traumas and he would eventually grow out of it.
"We had been trying to get to the bottom of it."
Miss Fuller, 49, said: "It's so hard. We are devastated."
Ryan's death certificate confirms he died as a result of a epileptic seizure on April 12.
Miss Fuller, a catering assistant, said her son had been laughing and joking with his family just hours before she found him dead in his bed.
She said: "He was laughing and joking as we all watched Emmerdale on TV.
"I found him the following morning. I always woke him up before I left for work.
"He had suffered a fit in the night and died."
Miss Fuller said her son had last suffered a minor fit in February, which did not require hospital treatment.
"That time, we heard Ryan fitting and we put him in the recovery position," she said.
"Usually, after he had a fit he would be sick and I would sit with him for a short time and then he would be fine. He sometimes had a headache."
From a young age, tests were carried out on Ryan but he was never diagnosed.
"We were just told it was night traumas," said Miss Fuller.
"He was told to take three tablets a day, which tended to stop the fits."
It is believed Ryan occasionally failed to take his prescribed medication.
Mr Houghton said: "We tidied his bedroom the other day and we came across some tablets that he hadn't taken.
"If Ryan had known he was suffering from epilepsy he may have taken the tablets.
"The tablet may have saved his life.
"We always reminded him to take his medication, but of course teenagers don't tend to listen to their parents."
Besides Ryan, the couple, who live in Whitstone Close, have two other sons, Richard, 27, and Anthony, 26, and a daughter Katie, 28.
Miss Fuller said: "He was really close to his sister.
"Ryan was popular at school. The girls would call him Candy Man, because he always had sweets for them.
"He never gave his parents any trouble. He tended to keep himself to himself.
"He was quite a shy boy, but was slowly starting to come out of his shell."
Mr Houghton said his son was an avid Manchester United fans and enjoyed video games.
"He loved his gadgets too," said Mr Houghton."
The couple say they have been overwhelmed by the support of their community.
Mr Houghton added: "Our neighbours, everyone – they've been brilliant."
The couple say they are considering legal action in relation to their son's death.
Ryan's funeral will be held on Tuesday at 11am at Eastern Cemetery.
