THE MOTHER of schoolgirl Wendy Ingram whose heart stopped while she was playing football thanked people for their overwhelming support.Teenager Wendy has been undergoing tests at Guy's Hospital in London today to find out the cause of her collapse at Stoke by Nayland Middle School playing field.

THE MOTHER of schoolgirl Wendy Ingram whose heart stopped while she was playing football thanked people for their overwhelming support.

Teenager Wendy has been undergoing tests at Guy's Hospital in London today to find out the cause of her collapse at Stoke by Nayland Middle School playing field.

She has recovered well from her ordeal but to date the reasons why Wendy's heart stopped beating remain a mystery.

Mum of two Debbie Ingram, 41, who was telephoned immediately after the incident, said: "You would never dream more than a week ago this would happen to a normal 13-year-old.

"It is such a shock. You don't know how you are going to react in a situation like that. You have tunnel vision. You just get on and do what you have to do.

"It is no good sitting at home, panicking and screaming because a child is ill. You just have to get on it."

Touched by the gestures of pupils, staff, friends and family, Mrs Ingram, of Brent Eleigh, said: "We as a family are eternally grateful.

"Not only for the teachers involved in helping to resuscitate, but all the staff at the school for the way they dealt with the situation so expertly. They were absolutely fantastic. I can't thank them enough for their quick reactions."

Sporty Wendy was playing football on the field when she collapsed and fellow pupils alerted staff who administered resuscitation until paramedics arrived.

Two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance crew arrived at the scene followed shortly by an air ambulance helicopter who made the mercy dash to Ipswich Hospital where Wendy was put on a ventilator.

Her parents took it in turns to keep a bedside vigil, so they could also lend support to their daughter at home.

Mrs Ingram thanked Ipswich Hospital staff for their care and also the paramedics and ambulance crew who visited Wendy in hospital. Parents with children at the school and Wendy's fellow pupils and classmates were also heaped with praise.

Now it is the case of her parents waiting to find the cause of incident.

"She is doing well," said Mrs Ingram. "Just being her usual 13-year-old self. She plays netball, hockey, basketball, football and touch rugby.

"Of course until the full results of all the tests come through we don't know what sports she will be able to play.

"But there is no reason at all at this time she won't be able to. We are just very lucky to have the support we have had from everybody."