'He was a special superhero': Tributes to schoolboy, 12, after sudden death

The parents of a 12 year-old-boy have paid tribute to their "special superhero" who tragically died last week.

Sam Bellingham, a schoolboy from Crewe, passed away on Friday, July 12, due to complications from an autoimmune condition. His distraught parents, Ian and Michelle Bellingham, along with his elder sister Chloe, have paid homage to their "amazingly unique little man", expressing their gratitude for the care given by Leighton Hospital and Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

They shared: "It is extremely hard to put into words what Sam meant to everyone. He was an amazingly unique little man who loved to be at home surrounded by his favourite figures, hot wheels and Lego where he would play for hours.

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"He was Scooby Doo's biggest fan and loved to watch all cartoons. He loved spending weekends in North Wales in his family caravan where he made countless happy memories at the seaside.

"He loved to visit a new beach and new shops to find a new toy set to collect and treasure. His smile was always on his face and gave hugs to everyone he loved and loved him", reports Cheshire Live.

"He passed away from complications of an auto-immune condition which Leighton Hospital and Alder Hey Children's Hospital worked tirelessly to try and help him with. Both hospitals were outstanding in their work and we will be forever grateful that they all worked so hard and Sam was never in pain or distress the whole three weeks indeed he still had his smile, sense of humour and kind heart to the very end.

"Sam adored his teachers and friends at St Thomas More High School and Vine Tree Primary School before that and we want to