Two-year-old Nathan Mullee died in his parents' arms after collapsing at nursery in Ripley.

Post-mortem examination revealed the toddler was suffering from a rare lung disease, and now his parents, Karl Mullee and Emma Brooks, are trying to raise funds for research and awareness into the illness.

An event last week at South Wingfield Miners' Welfare raised £854.
Karl said: "It was a great tribute to the little man. People have been fantastic with us since it happened.

"Nathan was always a very bouncy and happy child. We always said he was a bit like a whirling dervish, always into things and whizzing around the place.

"You would never have known he had this condition."

Nathan collapsed at his nursery after playing outside during afternoon break. Staff immediately called for an ambulance but he died soon afterwards in hospital.

It was later discovered that Nathan had a heart murmur and the Pulmonary Hypertension that causes a thickening of the lung lining causing increased blood pressure and extra pressure on the heart.

Karl explained: "Looking back there were a couple of incidents where he showed some symptoms, but they were very minor things. We knew nothing about the disease and didn't think there was anything wrong.

"I remember one afternoon when we went swimming and he got very, very cold in the water and his lips started to turn blue. We just thought he'd got too cold but it turns out that is a symptom of the condition.

"Many people out there have the disease and don't even know it. It's very hard to detect but there are tests you can do. If Nathan's story can reach just one family who think something isn't quite right and get their child tested then that will be great."