Devastated friends of Shropshire student Aiden Brookes today paid tribute to an “amazing” sportsman and friend who always “brightened up your day”.

The talented Bridgnorth teenager, who had played for Bridgnorth Rugby Club under-18s the day before his death, had become a popular boy since he moved from South Africa when he was 10.

Hundreds of his friends have flooded two memorial Facebook pages set up in his memory following his death in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Aiden’s parents Kirsty and Ashley, of Paulbrook Road, have been left devastated by his death. Just 11 days ago the couple along with Aiden and his two-year-old brother Kyron were celebrating the birth of another boy Bryce.

In a family statement the Brookes family spoke of their son’s sporting talents and his success as a corporal in the 63 (Bridgnorth) Squadron Air Training Corps.

He was due to represent the UK at Disney World later this year, they said.

The Oldbury Wells A-level student was enjoying the school holidays with about 20 friends who were camping under one of the Hermitage Caves around a campfire when it collapsed at 1.50am yesterday.

Jonathan Martin, youth co-ordinator at Bridgnorth Cricket Club where Aiden was a member for about three years said: “Aiden was an extremely nice lad, a good team player and a very good cricketer. He played for several of the youth teams I managed and he was perfectly polite, always on time and very reliable.”

Sam Downing, who created the Facebook page “RIP Aiden Brookes”, said: “Aiden was a great friend, an amazing rugby player and a good corporal at cadets.”

Describing Aiden as an “excellent” and “popular” student, Sarah Godden, headteacher of Oldbury Wells School, said: “The whole school is shocked and saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with Aiden’s family and friends and everyone connected with the incident.”

Aiden was also former delivery boy and agent for the Shropshire Star from September 2006 to December 2007.

A spokesman for the company said: “Aiden was a Shropshire Star paperboy in the High Town area. He was a lovely lad and his parents were very supportive of him. They were a lovely family.”