The devastated family of football star Alanzo Parsons, who died while playing for his club side in the United States, has spoken of the loss of the talented and fun-loving teenager.

Mr Parsons collapsed while playing in a competitive match for Connecticut Football Club in Boston on Sunday afternoon. The 18-year-old was rushed to Springfield Hospital where staff tried for hours to revive him.

Doctors have told his family that the young sportsman’s sudden death could have been caused by a “hypertrophic cardiomyopathy” — a genetic heart condition that can remain undiscovered for years.

Mr Parsons’s mother, Zina-May Parsons, received the heartbreaking call from the Boston hospital on Sunday evening saying her son had passed away.

“I just knew something was wrong as soon as they asked me if I was Alanzo’s mother,” she said. “My stomach just went and I kept asking ‘What’s wrong with AJ?’ It’s like I’m waiting to wake up from a bad dream at the moment. It does not feel real. I’m still waiting for him to turn up at the door and give me a big hug.

“AJ was last at home with the family at Christmas; he liked being in the US but he missed home and Bermuda cooking. We had a great Christmas all together and that time together means even more now.”

Ms Parsons described her son as a “real jokester” who always thought of others before himself.

“He was a typical boy growing up, getting into mischief with his brother, and always into all kinds of sports,” she said. “But he was always respectful and kind-hearted. He thought of others and was protective over his family.

“He liked to look smart and would always carry a brush in his back pocket. His death leaves a huge gap in our family. He was the life and soul of us. But we have been overwhelmed with support in the last few days and that has helped so much.”

Mr Parsons’s brother, En’Rikae, 22, added: “He was everything anyone could want in a brother. I have lived my life with him and I can’t believe he’s not coming back again. Everywhere I went, he went. We did everything together.

“He was a real leader and he could have gone all the way with his football.”

The two brothers grew up with their mother in Southampton, where as a youngster Mr Parsons was part of the youth football teams at Southampton Rangers.

The talented teen went on to join Devonshire Cougars and played a significant part in the team’s successful 2013-14 Triple Crown season. He has also been a mainstay of the Bermuda Under-20 team.

Last September after graduating from CedarBridge Academy, he went to study at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Connecticut, close to where his father, Alanzo Cherrington, lived.

He joined the football team that his father coached in the US and was due to start at Southern Connecticut University this year in the autumn.

Yesterday family and friends gathered at the Parsons homestead in Bailey’s Bay to provide support. Machi Battersbee, one of Mr Parsons’s best friends, said: “He was such a funny guy that you could not help but have a good time when you were with him.

“Football was his real passion and his team was Arsenal. He had real dreams of going professional one day.”

Cousin Za’khar Parsons added: “He was like my big brother and he would often describe me as his son.

“He would always be laughing and joking, but he looked out for his family at all times.”

His 12-year-old cousin, budding athletics star Za’kayza Parsons, told The Royal Gazette: “He always called me ‘my young ’un’, and we would always mess around about who was the fastest.

“I’ll remember him for all the laughs we had together and for looking out for me, and being a little bossy from time to time, too.”