THE parents of a nine-year-old boy who died after suffering a sudden asthma attack on a school playing field have called for more research into the killer disease.

The call came at an inquest into the death of Anuj Panchmatia who had been warming up for a school football match when he was struck by the respiratory illness in September last year.

An inquest heard how Anuj, from Chandler's Ford, had been running around the field as normal when all of a sudden he collapsed to the floor and stopped breathing.

Staff and the matron at the private Stroud School in Romsey immediately rushed to the boy's aid and started resuscitation while an ambulance was called.

Attempts to revive him failed and he died later the same day at Southampton General Hospital.

The inquest into his death also heard how despite having been diagnosed as suffering a mild form of asthma, the former Highfield Primary School pupil had always been an active and sporty lad, though had had to take medication for his condition at times.

The inquest heard that initially medical staff had thought Anuj may have died from a reaction to nuts, something tests had proved he was allergic too.

After samples from his blood were sent off to the world's leading experts at the University of Nebraska in the USA, the results showed he was clear of any nut traces.

A post-mortem showed Anuj had suffered what Home Office paediatric pathology specialist Dr Deborah Cook called a "sudden, extreme and tragic asthma attack".

Deputy Coroner Simon Burge pronounced a verdict of death by natural causes on Anuj.

Speaking after the inquest Anuj's parents, Namrata and Manoj, said their son had been a very active boy who loved playing football and cricket as well as playing the drums.

They added that his death had devastated their family, especially as it had come so suddenly and without any warning.

The family also praised the efforts of all those who had tried to save Anuj's life, both at the school and at the hospital. However they also called for more research to be done into treatments for asthma and in diagnosing how serious someone has the disease.

Mrs Panchmatia said: "People don't know or realise how chronic asthma is in someone or how badly they suffer from the disease, because it's hard for doctors to tell. I think more research into diagnosis and treating this condition needs to be done now before anyone else suffers what we have."