Tributes flood in for teenager killed in kennels gunshot mystery
Tributes have been paid to a teenage boy who died from a gunshot wound while working at the Grafton Hunt's kennels in Northamptonshire.
Jack Burgess, 16, died at the hunt's Paulerspury headquarters, while he was working a shift at the kennels.
Police were called to the scene, but later confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious. He died of a single gunshot wound.
Grafton Hunt spokeswoman Phillippa White described the teenager's death as a "tragic accident".
She said Jack had just started on an apprenticeship at the kennels since leaving school in July.
She said: "He was a great young lad, he loved his job, he had spent all his out-of-school hours for the last five years there so as soon as he left school we were delighted that he wanted to come and work for us on an apprenticeship scheme."
She said he had worked as a "second whipper-in", involved in all aspects of the kennels as part of his apprenticeship.
Many messages have been left by former classmates at Kingsbrook College in Deanshanger where Jack was a student until the summer.
One reads: "If tears could build a stairway, And memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven And bring you home again. Jack you will be missed so much."
It was revealed today that the hunt's opening meet, due to take place on Saturday, will go ahead as planned.
Hunt joint master Colin Richmond-Watson added: "The incident is subject to an investigation and it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.
"Our thoughts are with the family after this tragic incident."
A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said the force was called to the kennels at 2.45pm on Monday.
He added: "We were alerted to a report of a death of a teenage boy at High Street, Paulerspury. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner."
He added that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had been informed of the former Kingsbrook College student's death and South Northamptonshire Council was also aware of the incident.
An HSE spokesman said: "We have been made aware of this incident, but the investigation is being carried out by Northamptonshire Police."
The Rev Bridget Smith, of St James the Great Church, Paulerspury, said: "The church is providing pastoral care to the family and everyone else involved in the death."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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