A 16-YEAR-OLD youth was found unconscious in his bedroom hours after he collected his GCSE results, an inquest heard.

Temidayo Joseph, from Aveley, died at Basildon Hospital after he was found at 11pm on Thursday, August 21.

Coroner Caroline Beasley- Murray opened the inquest into his death in Chelmsford on Monday.

She was told a post-mortem carried out at the hospital had found the cause of death to be hanging.

Temidayo, known as Dayo or Simon to friends, went to the Ockendon Academy.

He had been at the school picking up his GCSE results, just hours before he died.

His school has described him as having a delightful personality and boundless energy.

It added: “He had a smile and a joke for everyone, and was always there when someone needed cheering up.”

After leaving school in June, Dayo returned every day as a volunteer in the PE department and also acted as a mentor for some of the school’s younger students.

A statement from the school added: “He will be remembered as an outstanding athlete, sportsman and passionate footballer.

“It is impossible to put into words the shock and sadness our whole community has felt at the tragic loss. He will be greatly missed.”

Hundreds of floral tributes were placed at the school in the days after the news of his death broke and tributes poured in via Facebook and Twitter.

The inquest was adjourned and will be held in full at a later date.