IAN CLARKE A football-mad nine-year-old Portuguese boy who died in a tragic accident at his Thetford home was today described as “our little star” by his family.

IAN CLARKE

A football-mad nine-year-old Portuguese boy who died in a tragic accident at his Thetford home was today described as “our little star” by his family.

Diogo Garcia - who was a popular member of the Thetford Bulldogs team - loved Manchester United and his hero was Red Devils star Ronaldo, who used to play for his home team of Sporting Clube Portugal.

Detectives today said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Diogo's death.

He died in hospital after being found unconscious at his home at Durham Way on the Abbey Estate at 8.10pm on Thursday (December 6).

A home office post mortem examination held at Addenbrokes Hospital in Cambridge revealed there was nothing suspicious about the way he died. The investigation will now be handed over to the Norfolk coroner for a full inquest.

Police have described Diogo's death as a “tragic accident.”

His father Alvaro, mother Zelia and younger brother Brendan today issued a statement which said: “Diogo was our little star. Diogo was well liked and always had a friendly smile for everyone he met.

“He would regularly make cards for us telling us how much he loved us. Our friends and family have travelled from Portugal to be with us at this tragic time.

“We would like to say thank you to the local community for all the flowers and words of support, both English and Portuguese communities.

“We would also like say thank you to the police for all the support they have given us. This is a very difficult time for us. We are obviously devastated and would now like to be left alone to grieve.”