THE heartbroken family of Aidan O’Neill has paid tribute to the bright, fun, and affectionate schoolboy who died in a tragic cycling accident.

The 12-year-old Poole Grammar School pupil was on his way to school on Wednesday morning when he hit metal barriers on a footbridge between Trigon Road and Harwell Road, and fell off his bike.

He was rushed to Poole Hospital – but later died from his injuries.

Yesterday, at his Oakdale home, his parents and grandparents told of the sunny-natured, independent and loving boy, who enjoyed acting and singing, adored nature, and loved cycling, swimming and rugby.

His mum Linsey, 43, a photographer, also spoke of the harrowing moments after her son’s accident.

She said: “A very kind lady called me up to say he’d fallen off his bike. I thought he’d grazed his knee, but I drove straight down there and walked over the bridge.

“He was ok when I got there, he was lying on the floor and complained his tummy hurt, but he looked a funny colour so I called the ambulance.

“He said his tummy hurt and then he was sick and he just lost consciousness.”

She added: “He was semi-conscious in the ambulance and in hospital, calling ‘mummy.’”

“His mother’s was the last face in his mind,” added Linsey’s mum Dulcie Brown, 75, from Corfe Mullen, who described her grandson as a “very loving dear boy.” Aidan died in hospital later that morning.

“He only went that way because we thought it was safer,” added Linsey.

Aidan’s father Steve, 50, an enterprise architect designing computer systems for Dorset County Council, painted a picture of an independent, confident boy – who made his own breakfast and packed lunch and would talk to anyone, young or old.

“He was just such fun,” he said. “He had a naturally smiley face, a very sunny disposition. He had a great capacity for empathy. He always put himself in someone else’s position – if they wanted a laugh he’d make them laugh, if they needed a cuddle he’d give them a cuddle.”

Aidan, a former Canford Heath First and Oakdale Middle School pupil, was proud to follow his half-brother Alex, 17, to Poole Grammar. He loved drama, performing in school plays and amateur dramatics, and adored anything to do with nature, often going bird watching with his grandfather Ted Brown.

Ted, 78, said: “He was my life. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”

Steve said his son would have hated for there to be a health and safety investigation, or for cyclists to be banned from the bridge as a result of the accident.

“We always brought him up to accept responsibility. You make a risk assessment and accept responsibility for what you do – he was like that. I guess he paid the ultimate responsibility.”

An inquest into the death was opened and adjourned yesterday. Evidence was heard that Aidan died from blunt force trauma.

Police are investigating on behalf of the coroner and believe he died as a result of a “tragic accident.”

Aidan also leaves behind three half-sisters, Siobhan, 23, Aislinn 18, and Sinead, 21.