TRIBUTES have poured in for a seven-year-old girl who died suddenly after becoming ill with a stomach bug.

Malaika Adam, a pupil at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, in Basildon, was sent home from school with a stomach ache.

But just two days later she was rushed to Basildon Hospital where doctors battled for five hours to try and save her life.

It is thought she was suffering from gastroenteritis.

Her distraught mum, Donna Howe, 38, of Polsteads, Vange, said: “It all happened so suddenly, she just fell asleep forever.

“She was the centre of attention and she loved people and loved making them smile.

“She really had an infectious smile.”

Grandmother Cheryl Lee, 59, paid tribute to her granddaughter, who leaves behind 11 brothers and sisters.

She said: “The doctors were so good, they tried for hours to bring her back.

“She was a ray of sunshine and with everyone that met her, she left a lasting impact. She was always healthy and we are just in shock.

“She was lovely and always smiling.”

Staff and pupils at St Teresa’s, in Elsenham Crescent, held a special assembly on Monday morning to remember the schoolgirl, who died on Friday, and a service was held at St Basil the Great in Malaika’s memory last weekend.

Headteacher Nuala Cashell said: “Malaika was a wonderful child who brought joy to all of our hearts.

“She was loved by both pupils and staff for her caring, considerate and happy nature.

“The children attended an assembly where we prayed for both Malaika and her family.

“The community of St Teresa’s school needs to pull together and support each other and Malaika’s family during this difficult time.

“I feel so lucky as a headteacher to have known such a wonderful little girl.”

Pupils will release white helium balloons at the beginning of its annual May Parade, which this year is dedicated to Malaika.

Malaika’s family are making arrangements for a funeral to take place in June while they wait for results from the postmortem.