A TEN-year-old boy who died only three days after complaining of a headache was the victim of a rare virus which infected his brain.

Scott Wakefield, of Eastfield Walk, Tadcaster, was feeling unwell and suffering from flu-like symptoms when he was seen by a doctor on May 6 last year.

The youngster died on May 9 after being put on a life-support machine at Leeds General Infirmary, an inquest was told. An initial brain scan revealed nothing unusual, but a second scan uncovered brain swelling and doctors were unable to save him.

The inquest, in Leeds, heard that the GP who saw Scott on May 6 was "shocked" when he heard of his death.

West Yorkshire Coroner, David Inchliff said: "The doctor has since agonised and wracked his brain to think of anything else he could have done to spot how serious Scott's condition was."

Doctors who treated Scott said the condition that killed him was extremely rare, and there was no way of spotting the symptoms.

In a statement, Scott's mother, Karen, told the inquest that it was unusual for him to be ill. When his condition did not improve she took him to the doctor's where she was told the illness was most likely a virus. The same evening, Mrs Wakefield went into Scott's bedroom to find him collapsed on the bed.

He was taken to York District Hospital, where doctors could find no reason why he was losing consciousness and he was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary.

Scott - who leaves a brother Robert 13, and sister, Jessica, five - was a staunch Manchester United fan and played in goal for Tadcaster Albion Under-10s.

He was a pupil at Tadcaster's Riverside Primary School, where staff and pupils planted a rose called Sweet Memories in the school quadrangle in honour of him.

Updated: 15:24 Thursday, November 01, 2001