A 17-year-old amateur boxer has died after collapsing in the ring.

Ed Bilbey from Ripley, Derbyshire, was treated by paramedics at Post Mill Centre in South Normanton where he was fighting in a match against another young boxer.

He stumbled forward as the referee held his hand aloft to announce the winner.

Ed Bilbey (right) from Ripley, Derbyshire, was treated by paramedics at the leisure centre where he was fighting. His brother Henry (left) has posted a tribute to him online

The teenager was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Heart-breaking tributes have poured out to the aspiring boxer on social media.

The teenager had fought in a 'competitive' match for the East Midlands Youth Welterweight Belt and had completed three rounds lasting three minutes each.

At the end of the match, the youngster had shaken the hand of his opponent's coach and had returned back to the centre of the ring for the decision where he had then collapsed.

Craig Perkins, Head Boxing Coach of Earl Shilton Boxing - the academy of Ed Bilbey's opponent, Tyler Rivers - said as a club they were 'devastated'.

Mr Perkins, from Leicester said: 'This wasn't a brutal fight, it was a competitive fight between two well-matched opponents.'

Explaining what happened shortly before Ed's collapse, Mr Perkins said: 'The bout had finished and Ed came over to congratulate our boy.

'He shook our coach's hand and then they both went back to the centre of the ring for the decision.

'Our lad was announced the winner and just as the referee held up his hand, Ed stumbled forward.

Ed's brother Henry posted of picture of himself with his arm round him with the caption 'love you'

'He was falling through the ropes while the referee was holding his hand.

'People realised he wasn't messing about and that he had actually collapsed.. There was a doctor present who gave him CPR and then the paramedics came and took over'.

Mr Perkins said Tyler was not doing well and was 'absolutely heartbroken'.

He said: 'The boys have fought before and they're friends outside the ring - they keep in touch on Facebook so Tyler is devastated.

'I know Ed a little and he was a very, very good boxer. He was a very skilled, developed and competitive boxer.'

It is believed that Ed was taking part in the East Midlands Youth Challenge Belt and was believed to be fighting against an opponent named as Tyler Rivers (pictured)

The bout had been sanctioned by England Boxing and met all medical criteria and checks required.

Mr Perkins added: 'They were both wearing head guards and they both had the correct sized gloves.

'They had both gone through the relevant medical checks and the pre-medical checks just before the fight.

'I've never seen anything like this before in all my 34 years of being involved int he sport.

Friends have described him as a 'mighty fine young man' and a talented amateur boxer

'All the criteria was in place.

'This is an amateur sport - there are very few knockouts, that's reserved for the professional boxers because that's what the crowds want.

'This was a well-matched bout between two competitive boxers - it wasn't a brutal match.'

An eyewitness at the fight during which an amateur boxer collapsed and later died described him as a 'brilliant lad' who was 'clean living' and '100 per cent fit'.

Mike Shinfield, who runs Shinfield's Gym, where Ed Bilbey's Somercotes Elite Boxing Academy is based, said the bout wasn't a hard fight.

He said: 'We're all grieving. We just can't believe it.

'There were no signs [beforehand] that anything was wrong.

'People were stunned and then everyone was asked to leave.

'I've been in the game 50 years and nothing like this has ever happened. He was a brilliant lad, clean living and he was 100 per cent fit.

'It's a mystery.'

The Board of England Boxing has released a statement about the devastating death.

A spokesman said: 'It is with great sadness that the Board of England Boxing, the governing body for boxing in England, can confirm that a boxer died last night following a bout at an England Boxing-sanctioned event in Derby.

'We are extremely saddened by this and would like to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the person involved in this terrible and shocking incident.

'The Board of England Boxing has set up an investigation to establish the facts of what happened and will provide an update when we know more.

Police are appealing for footage of the fight which took place at Post Mill Centre in South Normanton

'We are also asking all of the England Boxing coaches, officials and volunteers that were present on the night to co-operate with the police investigation and assist the authorities in any way they can.

'We will be providing support to people that have been affected by this terrible news.'

Police are appealing for footage of the fight.

They were called to the boxing tournament at 10.17 last night when the youth collapsed.

He died shortly after at Kingsmill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Friends have posted touching tributes on social media to the aspiring boxer.

His brother Henry posted of picture of himself with his arm round Ed with the caption 'love you'.

Friend John Connolly wrote: 'He was a mighty fine young man in the making and a talented boxer.'

Derbyshire Police said a post-mortem and formal identification will take place

Cole Langham said: 'Stay strong mate we are all feeling for you and your family Eddie was a great boxer and will be truly missed.'

Vicky Coxy Slinn wrote: 'Such a lovely lad....you're all lovely. Thinking of you all. So so sorry.'

A friend who's watched the match wrote on Facebook: 'Ed Bilbey boxed like a bloody trooper last night and was with him n his mum and family till the end last night.

'I can't believe the night ended like it did ……..RIP EDDY MY LOVELY U DID UR FAMILY PROUD LOVE U TOO BITS.'

Another friend added: 'Thank you for being my trainer. Thank you for being my cornerman.'Thank you for being my friend. Heartbreaking news RIP Ed Bilbey.'

Meanwhile the tragic death has shocked people in the community.

Paul Cotton, who lives on Market Street, opposite the centre, said: 'It's an absolute tragedy. It's shocked a lot of people in the community to the core.

'The boxing event was a big thing, a lot of people were talking about it and getting excited about it.

'I've spoken this morning to someone who was there and he left before it happened but he can't believe it.

'He said the event was fine and everybody was enjoying it. We're quite a close community and it's a quiet area. I saw the police leave this morning.

'I just feel so sorry for everyone involved.'

Pat Stoppard, who owns shop P & M News, also in Market Street, said: 'We have advertised the event and I know there was a lot of excitement about it.

'The people that asked us to put up the posters were looking forward to it.

'It's terrible that it's turned to tragedy. It's so heartbreaking that he has died doing something he enjoyed.

'We've had people in the shop talk about it. It's very shocking.'

Derbyshire Police said a post-mortem and formal identification will take place.

A police spokesman said: 'At this stage there don't appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding this death.

'If you were at the tournament and have any footage of the bout or information that might help, please contact Detective Sergeant Debbie Yoxall on 101, quoting incident number 1162 of March 24.'