A mother has told how her nine-year-old son was 'really strong and really brave' as he coped with multiple medical conditions before his short life was claimed by an asthma attack.

Bradley Wilson, from Thetford, died from the attack on September 15, 2011. His mother Tanya Bruce and father Mark Wilson heard at an inquest at Norwich Coroner's Court yesterday how their son's death was due to natural causes and nothing more could have been done to save him.

Following the inquest, Mrs Bruce, who lives in Lambert's in Thetford, said: 'I was so proud of Bradley. He coped very well and was really strong and really brave through all these illnesses he had.

'I'd like to thank Dr Lakshman and the West Suffolk Hospital staff for everything they did.

'I'd also like to thank the neighbours for the memorial bench they have done for Bradley. We put some concrete in front of the bench and all Bradley's friends and family put our handprints in before it dried.'

The inquest heard how Bradley had a history of medical problems, including several severe allergies, asthma and eczema, and while he had challenging behaviour this did not have a significant bearing on the management of his illnesses.

West Suffolk Hospital consultant paediatrician Raman Lakshman rang Mrs Bruce on August 17 as he was concerned that Bradley had been excluded from school for a long time and wanted to know if he would be going back to school in September.

Both he and Mrs Bruce told the inquest that at the time they had more concerns about the management of Bradley's allergies, as these had caused his most recent admissions to hospital, rather than his asthma.

Mrs Bruce said that on September 15, after going to school in King's Lynn during the day, Bradley returned home and had dinner with his family and appeared in good health. Later on, he went out to play with friends in front of the house, but when he returned he was wheezing and could not make a seal around his inhaler, so Mrs Bruce rang 999. An ambulance arrived within four minutes, but Bradley stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. He was rushed to the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds at 7.44pm, where a team of medics and consultants were waiting upon arrival.

Despite the best efforts of the team, Bradley could not be revived. Dr Flora Jessop, of Addenbrooke's Hospital, carried out a post mortem examination and said the cause of death was most consistent with an acute deterioration or exacerbation of asthma and his lungs had also collapsed.

Norfolk coroner William Armstrong, who recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, said: 'It does appear to me, from all the evidence I have heard today, Bradley's mum Tanya was doing her best to manage his medical conditions in the most appropriate way possible and I make no criticism at all of the way in which she was trying to manage Bradley's medical conditions.'

He added: 'I know this inquest has been a traumatic occasion for all members of the family and I know there have been difficulties in the past, but I hope the tragedy of Bradley's death can bring people together and I think that's right as a way of honouring Bradley's memory.'

Mr Armstong said: 'Despite some challenging behaviour, Bradley was, nevertheless, a bright and bubbly boy and that's how he must be remembered by all of you.'