29-05-2025
Family pay tribute to 'caring' A-level student, 16, found dead in bedroom after heroin substitute overdose - amid mystery over how he obtained drug
A 'studious' schoolboy was found dead in his bedroom after experimenting with methadone, an inquest heard.
Sunny Abreu, 16, was discovered to be unresponsive at his home and paramedics raced there to help but were unable to revive him.
A post-mortem examination revealed the teenager had used methadone, a synthetic opioid used to treat heroin dependence or to provide pain relief, although it remains unclear how he obtained it.
Norfolk Coroner's Court heard Sunny had taken an amount that would be considered fatal for a 'non-tolerant individual', indicating he was not a regular user.
In a heart-wrenching statement at the inquest yesterday, his parents Mario and Sarah Abreu described how they were still struggling to accept the loss more than a year on.
'This still seems so unreal as in [our minds] Sunny is still with us and he has just gone away travelling,' they said.
They added: 'Sunny was a kind, caring, funny and generous character who brought bundles of pure fun, joy and energy to every situation.
'He was a free spirit, fearless and adventurous. He was minimalistic, he never wanted for much and showed gratitude for what he had.
'Sunny had a way of making everyone feel special and loved – he always had a listening ear, a helping hand and a kind word.
'He was a genuine soul who touched the lives of countless people with his kindness and compassion.'
The statement continued: 'Sunny was bright and positive about everything and we loved Sunny with all our being.
'Part of us has died with Sunny. Life will never be the same. Sunny was the heart of our family, our ray of sunshine and now we are living with a dark cloud looming over us.
'I hope we can finally lay Sunny at rest and move forward, celebrating and remembering his short but full life and his amazing being.
'We will always carry Sunny in our hearts. He was so loved and brought love and joy to us all.'
The hearing, in Norwich, was told that Sunny was found in his room at the family home in King's Lynn on April 3 last year.
He was described as a creative and academic pupil at Springwood Sixth Form in the town, where he was taking A-levels and planning to become a physiotherapist, but also enjoyed sports, particularly football.
The industrious teenager also had an after-school job at N & N Convenience Store near his home where he would clean and restock shelves.
Owner Trupti Patel told the Mail: 'He was such a good lad, a brilliant boy. He did his job 100 per cent and never let us down.
'He was very good with his education and he talked to customers. There were no complaints about him any time.
'The day before he died he came in to buy something and I asked him if he wanted to do any extra work.
'I'm so sad about what happened. I never thought about it [taking drugs] – he never smelled of anything. [When he died] I thought it would be a heart attack.'
Area coroner Yvonne Blake concluded Sunny was the victim of a drug-related death.
The formal cause of death was given as bronchopneumonia and respiratory depression due to methadone toxicity.
Dozens of people paid tribute on an online memorial website last year after Sunny died.
Tatum Rayner wrote 'I'll miss you and love you forever', while Joseph Hipkin said 'Miss you bud. The physics lessons and random adventures aren't the same without you'.
Daisy Jeffries added 'I miss you, Sunny. Next party up there, make sure you bring the right poles for the tent aha', while Jake Bridges commented 'Sunny - miss your smile and you'.
A packed funeral service took place at St Faith's Church in Gaywood on May 10 last year, followed by an interment at Gayton Road Cemetery.
Data from the UK's National Drug Treatment Monitoring System shows that about 70 per cent of patients receiving opioid substitution treatment in England are prescribed methadone.
The remaining 30 per cent receive buprenorphine, which is preferred when there are concerns about the patient having a low tolerance or if they have other health issues such as cardiac or respiratory disease.
In 2023, there were 709 deaths involving methadone – which can be lethal in doses as low as 30mg in non-tolerant individuals - and 46 linked to buprenorphine.
