Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Parents pay tribute to their fearless son Troy
A young rugby star with dreams of playing for England has died just a week after a devastating cancer diagnosis.
The family of talented Troy Philpott, 13, made the agonising decision to turn off his life support machine after he suffered a bleed on his brain caused by leukaemia.
He had only discovered he had cancer just seven days before, and only hours after a GP sent him home with antibiotics.
His heartbroken mum Inger, of The Avenue, Hersden, told the Gazette that Troy had started to feel unwell 10 days before his death last Tuesday but the resilient youngster was still determined to play rugby on Sunday, April 9.
“He had been unwell on and off for a few days but when he was adamant he could still play rugby and be out and about, we thought he was okay,” Inger said.
“We thought it was just a virus.”
However, the next day Troy’s condition worsened and he developed bruising on his body.
“We went to the doctors on Tuesday morning and Troy was sent home with antibiotics,” Inger said.
“Now I can see that this was wrong, that there were obvious signs which should have been picked up on, but I didn’t know that at the time.
“By 2pm that day, Troy was lying on the sofa looking and feeling so unwell so I called 111 and then an ambulance.”
Troy was rushed to the QEQM Hospital in Margate, where he was diagnosed with leukaemia and transferred to St George’s Hospital in London in the early hours of the next morning.
He underwent surgery on the Thursday after developing a bleed on his brain, but doctors were unable to save him and he died in intensive care five days later.
“You never think something like this will happen to you,” Inger said. “It all happened before our eyes so quickly.
“I keep thinking I am going to wake up from this. I hate the mornings and evenings because he isn’t there getting up and getting ready for bed.”
Troy, who leaves a brother Kane, 19, and sister Lily, nine, was a pupil at Archbishop’s School and played rugby for the Under-13s at Canterbury RFC.
He quickly impressed as a “strong and fearless” No 8 and was due to attend a summer camp with reigning Premiership champions Saracens later this year.
“No tackle was too daunting for Troy, no opposition player too big,” said Inger and Troy’s dad, Del.
“He played at his best in every match with dedication and enthusiasm, for which he was greatly respected by all.”
Outside of rugby, Troy was a Kent champion BMXER, enjoyed deep sea fishing with his grandad, had Troy was a pupil at Hoath Primary School before joining the Canterbury Academy and then later the Archbishop’s School. Staff at the Academy remember him as a “fundamentally decent young man”. “He had an engaging personality, possessed an entertaining sense of humour and was popular with his peers,” they said. “Lively, cheerful and chatty, he was an engaging character who could occasionally present as the loveable rogue whose smile would light up a room. “He was particularly fond of art and sport. “His great passion was rugby and he was a very promising young player who represented the school during the week and his local club at weekends. “His death, at such a young age, is incomprehensibly tragic. “Whatever is now said will somehow seem inadequate and no words can truly capture Troy’s individuality, character and personality, or do justice to his potential. “He is remembered by his staff with genuine affection. The school can only express its profound sympathy, and extend its deepest condolences, to his family for their loss.”
started flying lessons and learnt to scuba dive aged just 10.
“He was a great friend with a wonderful, mischievous sense of humour, a strong, unrelenting sense of justice and always showed great kindness,
especially when times were hard,” his parents said.
“At 13 he had done so much, but he had so much more to give.”
Troy’s family has set up a Facebook page - Troy Philpott Funny Moments - for friends and loved ones to share memories and photographs of the teenager.
They are also inviting anyone to say a few words at his funeral service at Barham Crematorium on Monday, May 8.
“It will be to celebrate his life, as a 13-year-old boy would do,” they said.
“We would like this to be an occasion where all who knew Troy are welcome.”
Troy’s coffin will leave Hersden at 3.15pm and be driven around the top pitch at Canterbury Rugby Club ahead of the service in Barham at 4.40pm.
It will be followed by a wake at the rugby club, with all welcome.
His parents said: “As Troy was such a keen rugby player we have decided that the dress code is rugby shirt or top, or bright colours.
“Troy didn’t like flowers, so we ask for no floral tributes, but would like rugby balls containing personal messages.”
A Justgiving page set up in Troy’s memory has raised almost £3,000 since his death.
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/kate-white.