Heartrending tributes were today paid to two-year-old Kyron Vince, the second child to die from suspected meningitis in two days.Kyron lost his battle for life at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge yesterday after being taken ill on New Year's Eve.

IPSWICH: Heartrending tributes were today paid to two-year-old Kyron Vince, the second child to die from suspected meningitis in two days.

Kyron lost his battle for life at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge yesterday after being taken ill on New Year's Eve.

His death occurred a day after a friend of his, a girl also aged two, is also believed to have died from the same illness. She had fallen ill on Wednesday night.

The double tragedy is believed to be the third death of child taken to Ipswich Hospital with suspected meningitis in little more than two weeks.

All three lived in east Ipswich.

Kyron and the friend he used to play with were from the Greenwich area.

Kyron lived with his parents Vicky Holland and Mark Vince in Hawke Road, who were at his bedside when he died. They have been left distraught by his death.

Miss Holland said: “Kyron was our sweet little angel.”

Kyron's grandfather and grandmother, Adrian and Denise Collins, of Schreiber Road, also spoke movingly of the little grandson they had lost.

Barely able to hold back the tears, Mr Collins said: “He was my little grandson. Kyron was our little ray of light, our little man.

“We are numb beyond belief. Kyron was a lovely kid. He smiled a lot, laughed and brought a lot of joy to everybody. He will be missed.

“We are all astounded.”

Mr Collins said although Kyron had a pre-existing condition, Ipswich Hospital has informed his family that the youngster is believed to have died from meningococcal septicaemia.

John Ehlert, Kyron's uncle, spoke of the impact the youngster's death has had on his parents.

He said: “It's traumatic. They just can't see how they are going to get over it.”

Kyron had appeared to be well when he was put to bed on December 30.

However, he became ill early on New Year's Eve and began vomiting.

Paramedics were called to his home during the morning. When they arrived Kyron was said have been limp and he is not believed to have been breathing.

After clearing his airways the ambulance crew took Kyron to Ipswich Hospital. A specialist team was sent from Addenbrooke's to Ipswich to help stabilise his condition, before he was taken to the Cambridge hospital late on New Year's Eve.

As the night wore on Kyron's parents stayed at the hospital and Kyron's condition seemed to be improving.

However, yesterday his condition worsened again and he died at 10.04am.

Last night, The Evening Star reported how his friend had died on New Year's Eve after being taken ill on Wednesday.

The tragedy came less that three weeks after another suspected meningitis victim, 11-month-old Ellie Parsons, of Felixstowe Road, died on December 14

Jan Rowsell, a spokeswoman for Ipswich Hospital, said investigations would be launched into all three tragedies and that would include working very closely with Addenbrooke's Hospital in relation to Kyron's death.

She added all the families would be kept informed at every stage.