Parents of girl, 15, who died suddenly after collapsing at school pay tribute to ‘sweet’ daughter

The parents of a 15-year-old girl with allergies and asthma who died suddenly after collapsing at school have paid tribute to their ‘sweet, intelligent and respectful’ daughter.

Laila Dawood, 15, died after collapsing at Derby Moor Academy on Friday, December 9.

Her father, Mohammed Dawood, 46, said the shock has left him feeling profoundly empty.

Mr Dawood said: ‘She meant the whole world to us. She was a very, very sweet child and a respectful girl, whatever colour you were. She had a lot of friends from all different backgrounds.

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Laila Dawood, 15, (pictured) died after collapsing at Derby Moor Academy on Friday, December 9

‘She was intelligent and kind and sweet to everyone, a really bright girl. She was doing really well in her mock exams, she got the highest grade. She wanted to become a lawyer and study law.’

The 46-year-old, who owns a mobile phone repair shop in Derby, added: ‘Every time I knocked on the door the way I knock on doors she would run and open the door, whatever she was doing, and hug me straight away.

‘We have lots of memories from going on holidays and at home and wonderful family and friends too. Now when I come home it’s empty. I see a lot of people but I don’t see my daughter. I feel so empty.’

Her father, Mohammed Dawood (pictured right), 46, said the shock has left him feeling profoundly empty. Her mother Aziza Dawood (second from right) said Laila (pictured left with her younger sister Aaliyah, second from left) was her ‘whole world’

Laila’s mother, Aziza Dawood, 39, said: ‘She was my whole world. I struggle to read and write in English and she was my eyes and ears during doctor’s appointments and shopping. She was my brain.

‘She was my everything, my best friend. She was very intelligent and very bright. I don’t feel the day or night now. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m completely lost.’

A friend of the family, Showat Khan, told Derbyshire Live that flowers will be laid outside Laila’s school at 11am on Monday, December 19. He said: ‘The family and friends are very upset and we stand together as a community.’