A MOTHER suspects her ‘loving’ son may have drowned due to an underactive thyroid.

Lesley Day was holidaying in the US with her two sons when her eldest boy McKinley, 14, drowned while swimming in a pool within the Beaver River in New York State near the Canadian border.

Mrs Day, 45, of Speeds Way, Farndon, flew home yesterday (Wednesday) with McKinley’s body due to arrive today.

She says an underactive thyroid problem runs in the family and can lead to sudden, overwhelming fatigue. Test results are awaited.

Mrs Day, whose ex-husband Adam lives in Christleton, had gone over to the States with McKinley and younger son Mitchell, 12, to see pen pal Tina whom she has known since they were both 11.

The boys had gone off swimming with Tina’s husband Kenny when the accident happened.

McKinley was dragged from the water by Kenny and an off-duty State Trooper but could not be revived.

Mrs Day said her teenage son had become the ‘man of the house’ since she and the boys’ father had separated.

She said: “We used to sit together on the sofa and he would cuddle up to me. He was very loving. We were really very close.”

McKinley, who is named after Mount McKinley in Alaska, was a keen rugby player, loved watching Cheshire Jets basketball and, like many teenage boys, had posters of Cheryl Cole in his bedroom.

A tearful Mrs Day, who volunteers at the Christian Cafe Life in Blacon, is drawing strength from her faith.

“He was my little best friend. He was always kind, never horrible to anyone, even when people were horrible to him,” she said.

“He was funny. He used to make me laugh and he was gentle.”

McKinley was a pupil of Bishop Heber High School, Malpas, where classmates often called him ‘Maccy D’.

Mrs Day said her determined son was ‘good at maths’ and had not let dyslexia hold him back. He had talked of one day becoming an actor or even an architect.

The family is supporting McKinley’s brother Mitchell, also a pupil of the Heber, who witnessed the tragedy unfold and was said to be ‘joined at the hip’ to his sibling.

Mrs Day and the family are grateful to the community and McKinley’s friends who have left touching messages on a Facebook tribute page.

McKinley’s grandma June Green, of Maddocks Close, Farndon, said of her daughter: “She’s been through a really bad time but she’s got some fabulous friends and has her faith.”

McKinley’s father Adam Day commented: “I am overwhelmed at all the love, support and beautiful tributes on Facebook from McKinley’s friends.

“It is certainly comforting to see he has touched so many hearts.”

The funeral will take place on Friday, August 26 at St Chad’s Church, Farndon, at 2pm.