Trainee teacher dies after suffering heart attack in front of horrified pupils
Ian Babington's wife says she is 'numb with shock' at his sudden death
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Your support makes all the difference.A trainee teacher has died after suffering a heart attack and collapsing in front of his pupils.
Geography teacher, Ian Babington, suffered a fatal heart attack during a lesson at Roundhill Academy in Thurmaston, Leicestershire as his horrified pupils looked on.
He was raced to hospital by paramedics but died the next day at Leicester's Glenfield Hospital.
Now tributes have been pouring in for the “kind and gentle” 45-year-old as his wife said she is “numb with shock” at his death earlier this month.
Mandy Babington said they couple had been married for 17 years and had just celebrated their anniversary on 4 April.
She told the Mirror: "I'm numb with shock and devastated. Ian had a quiet, gentle nature, and a brilliant sense of humour that was full of wit.
"He loved writing and poetry and music was his biggest passion in life. He played with a band, Evangeline, and we met when he was performing in Leicester. We hit it off straight away and were together ever since.
"He never had a bad word to say about anybody and I know he was really enjoying his teaching and looking forward to being qualified”.
Mr Babington's death came just as he was about to achieve his dream of qualifying as a teacher.
The former Carphone Warehouse manager had just started his teacher training course at Roundhill Academy at the start of the year after completing a geography degree at the University of Brighton and a masters in History at the University of Leicester.
Ms Babington said her husband had decided to train as a teacher because he "wanted to help young people".
School principal, James Tickle, said: "Ian's death has been a huge shock for all members of The Roundhill Academy community and we are still trying to come to terms with this tragedy.
"Ian was making good progress as a trainee at the school and was well on the way to fulfilling his ambition of becoming a teacher.
"He was a really lovely person and well respected by all staff and students at The Roundhill Academy.”
Mr Tickle said staff and students were welcome to ask for support following the incident and that they were planning to commemorate his time at the school by raising money for charity in his name.
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