The boy was on his way to St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, on Tuesday morning, when he is reported to have collapsed. People passing by attempted to help, according to Stoke-on-Trent Live.
The boy was put in the recovery position.
Paramedics and police then rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a “medical emergency” before 9am.
He was taken to hospital but it was too late and he was later pronounced dead.
The boy has not been officially named.
A spokesman from West Midlands Ambulance Service said the boy was found in a “critical condition”.
They said: “Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a BASICS emergency doctor attended the scene.
“On arrival, we discovered one patient, a boy, in a critical condition, he was conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital for further treatment.”
The tragedy has been labelled a “non-suspicious sudden death”.
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“It’s tragic. I can’t stop thinking about his poor family.
“Just heartbreaking.”
Kel Ayssa, quoted in Stoke-on-Trent Live, added: “So heartbreaking. My daughter was in the little boy’s form.
“RIP little man, thinking of your family and friends.”
The paper reports that hundreds of other messages of condolences have been offered to the family.
