Tributes have been paid to a seven-year-old boy who died after falling ill at his flood-hit home in Britain.

Police are investigating whether flooding was a factor in the death of the boy, named locally as Zane Gbangbola.

Officers have refused to be drawn on whether carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator pumping out flood water from his home may have been to blame.

Zane’s parents, Kye Gbangbola and Nicole Lawler, were also taken ill at the family home in Thameside in Chertsey, Surrey, just before 3.30am yesterday.

Two police officers and 13 nearby residents were released after being treated in hospital as a precaution.

As Zane’s parents remained in a serious but not life-threatening condition at St Peter’s Hospital, tributes were paid to the schoolboy.

Anoop Hothi, 31, taught Zane martial arts at the Sport Martial Arts Academy in Egham, which he joined aged five.

It’s not the parents who are to blame for this. It’s the overall system that’s to blame for his death

After a year, Zane became a member of the leadership team helping teach others new to the club, and last month he was promoted to green stripe belt.

Mr Hothi, also a neighbour of Zane’s family, said: “Little Zane was an absolute joy to teach, and it’s children like him who make teaching so much more rewarding.

“I’m sure his school teachers would say the same thing. He was a lovely boy, and he came from good, caring parents.

“It’s not the parents who are to blame for this. They were loving and caring people – it’s the overall system that’s to blame for his death.

“Zane had his whole life ahead of him. It’s heart-breaking for his parents. I found out yesterday morning and I didn’t want to believe it.”

He added: “It was only a few months ago that my little brother was playing with Zane, and now he is in tears.”

Mr Hothi criticised various agencies for their response to the floods in the area. He said he saw some pipes coming out from the front of Zane’s parents’ property throwing out water, but he did not know whether a generator was being used.

Zane’s mother is a member of the All Party Parlia-mentary Climate Change Group and his father is the founder of a sustainability consultancy.

A message on the Facebook page of Sport Martial Arts Academy announced Zane’s death to members.

Chief Superintendent Dave Miller, of Surrey Police, said that the cause of Zane’s death was still unknown. It may take days for a cause of death to be established and it would be “inappropriate” to speculate on what it might be, he added.

There did not appear to be a wider risk to the public, with the illness limited to one family, Mr Miller went on. The investigation into yesterday’s tragic death of the seven-year-old boy is ongoing and the cause of death is still unknown.

“We are continuing to work with partner agencies and officers are following various lines of inquiry.

“There have been no further casualties reported. This, coupled with expert advice, leads us to believe at this stage that this is an isolated incident localised to one family.

“Surrey Police will release an update when a cause of death has been determined, but this may take several days. In the meantime it would be inappropriate to speculate.

“Our thoughts continue to be very much with the boy’s parents, who still remain in hospital, and we are continuing to support them during what is understandably a very difficult time.”

Public Health England also said they do not believe there is a wider health risk to the public after nearby residents were evacuated and advised to go to hospital as a precaution. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health agency, which is tasked with improving the nation’s health, said it was helping police with their investigation.

“Currently, there are no indications that there is a wider public health risk.”

A South East Coast Ambulance spokeswoman said Zane was found to be in a “very serious condition” when crews arrived.