Teen's death baffles parents

Nineteen-year-old Bevan Henstock's unexplained death has left his family shattered and bewildered. Photo / Supplied

A shattered family is waiting for answers after their teenage son died in his sleep without any apparent cause.

Bevan Henstock, 19, seemed healthy and fit before his mother Donna found him dead in his bed on Friday. His funeral is in Hamilton today.

Bevan's father, Clive Henstock, told the Herald an autopsy had been performed, and no reason had been found for his son's death.

"But further testing is going on. We are a bit disappointed nothing has come out of the autopsy. (Bevan) was very happy ... It's a great tragedy. He just died in his sleep, and we don't know why."

Bevan's death has similarities to that of King's College student William Thode who was found dead in bed in February.

The 15-year-old was later found to have myocarditis - a rare and sporadic condition that causes inflammation of the heart.

The Hamilton coroner's office is awaiting a pathologist's report on Bevan's death.

Police, who investigate deaths for the coroner, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Described as a "soft-hearted" lover of nature and animals, Bevan had been working at a local cinema since leaving school, and had been looking forward to studying at Auckland University.

He attended St Paul's Collegiate School in Hamilton until two years ago, and was a member of the school's rowing team in competitions around New Zealand.

"He had been working for two years ... and at the end of this year he was planning to go to Auckland University with a number of the friends that he met through his work," Mr Henstock said.

He had planned to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Cor Bezuidenhout, who was Bevan's housemaster at St Paul's, described the former student as quiet, kind and soft-hearted. Bevan had been made a house prefect because of his empathy for others.

"In that responsibility, he was fantastic because he would sense immediately if some people were having a tough time, and he would go and help them."