A grieving dad is seeking answers over the tragic death of his teenage son.

Father-of-five Mohammed Aslam has been left with questions over the loss of son Arslan, 16, who died after surgery in hospital.

Arslan’s death has touched many people including staff and fellow pupils at his school, Newsome High in Huddersfield, who have paid emotional tributes.

The school organised a special day in memory of Arslan releasing balloons, creating a memory book for his family and unveiling a plaque.

Arslan was a big boxing fan and tributes have also been paid by professional fighters including former World Champion Amir Khan, who is to back a fundraising bid in Arslan’s name.

Arslan Aslam meets Amir Khan

Manchester City fan Arslan, who had muscular dystrophy, underwent eight-hour surgery to insert a rod into his back to allow him to sit up straight and improve his quality of life.

He appeared to be recovering well but five days later he suddenly collapsed, suffering a cardiac arrest. He was revived but had suffered massive brain damage and died at the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Brackenhall on March 25.

His dad, known to friends as Azzie, told how the family had been left with feelings of guilt and questions over his care in hospital.

“I don’t believe it was his time to go,” said Azzie, of Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury. “We desperately need answers from the medical professionals about what went wrong.

“The only comfort is we know he has gone to heaven but was it his time?”

Azzie, who has four other children Hassan, 22, Rizwan, 12, Amaan, eight, and three-year-old Nadia, said doctors recommended the operation to improve his quality of life and keep movement in his arms and body for longer.

Mohammed Aslam with his wife Nasreen and children Hassan (22) - who also suffers from muscular dystrophy, Rizwan (12), Armaan (8) and Nadia (3)

Mum Nasreen, 52, didn’t want him to have the surgery but Arslan was keen and eventually wore down his parents and got them to agree.

He went into the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and had the complex surgery on the Tuesday.

Azzie said his son came round quickly and was talking and eating over the next few days. By Saturday he was “lively, well and buzzing.”

On Sunday Azzie was with his son in hospital when he got a call inviting him to an elections hustings event in Savile Town, Dewsbury. At first he refused to go but was persuaded by Arslan who said he was fine.

Azzie left and attended the event. He rang the hospital later and his son was asleep. He had just got to bed at 2.30am when his phone rang to tell him Arslan’s condition had deteriorated and he should go to the hospital.

“When we got there Arslan was in intensive care with a tube in his mouth,” said Azzie. “His eyes were open but he wasn’t there.

“When I asked what had happened they told me his airways had been blocked by mucus and that had stopped his heart from beating and he went into cardiac arrest.

“They lost him for 24 minutes and said they thought he was brain damaged.”

Doctors said Arslan would not survive and his family were persuaded to remove life support and the teenager was taken to the hospice where he died later.

“If he didn’t have the operation he would be fine and still be here,” said Azzie. “They said it wasn’t the operation but the build up of mucus. Why didn’t they spot it before?

“I was not there for him and believe we are entitled to some answers. We want closure.”

Friends and family rallied round for Arslan’s funeral and Azzie said: “That’s when I realised how he had touched so many people.”

Teachers from Newsome, where Arslan was a student for five years, attended his funeral and a memorial day at the school saw staff and pupils release blue balloons in his memory.

Mrs Alison Kilner, a teaching assistant in the specialist provision unit, said the school was going to raise funds for Forget Me Not and the Martin House children’s hospice in Wetherby in Arslan’s name.

She paid tribute to him and told how he had grown up through his time at the school.

“He was a cheeky chappie who developed into a lovely young man,” she said. “He was very caring and thoughtful and was a role model to the younger children.

“He was a special young man who won’t be forgotten.”

Arslan loved boxing and Sheffield flyweight Waleed Din wore a T-shirt with Arslan’s picture on it before a fight and afterwards dedicated his victory to the teenager.

Arslan would have been 17 in September and to mark his birthday his younger brother Rizwan, also a promising boxer, is to lead a sponsored run from the family home in Ravensthorpe to the Forget Me Not hospice.

Money will be raised for the Brackenhall hospice and Martin House.

The family also hopes Amir Khan will visit to lend his support on the day.

Arslan loved all sports and one of his best days was a visit to Manchester City’s training ground, organised by the charity the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

He met many of the players including captain Vincent Kompany and England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Azzie said: “I know all parents think their children are special but Arslan really was. He was a fantastic young man.”

There will be no inquest and in a statement Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our sympathies are with Mr Aslam and his family during this time.

“We are more than happy to meet with the family to discuss any questions they have in relation to the sad death of their son, and ask them to contact us to arrange this meeting.”