A 13-year-old boy died after choking on a pen top he swallowed while doing his homework.
Ben Stirland was pronounced dead in hospital two days after the incident in which the small plastic top lodged in his throat.
Despite being seen as a rare type of incident, the tragedy has prompted warnings about chewing or sucking on pen tops.
Ben lived with his mother Nathalie, stepfather David, sister and younger brother in Consett.
A relative said today they were too upset to talk about the tragedy which happened on January 9.
Ben died in Newcastle General Hospital, without regaining consciousness.
His head teacher at Moorside Community Technology College, in Consett, said: "Ben was a much-loved member of our community."
A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said: "Incidents like this are extremely rare but it is a reminder again to people not to suck on pens. It is a sad case."
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