A YOUNG dreamer can seemingly have the world at his feet and his future in his hands.

But sometimes life serves up a terrible reminder that so much is out of our control.

Callum Page, from Colchester, was flourishing in his career in insurance and had just purchased a new car.

A popular young man, he was always ambitious and hopeful for his future and was adored by many of his friends and family.

He spent much of his weekends and free time with his mum Karen Spurgeon and brothers Carl, 32, Tye, 29 and Charlie, 14.

Callum was found dead in his car in Whitehall Close, Colchester, in August last year. He was just 22.

A post-mortem examination later found Callum, previously a student at the Gilberd School and Colchester Sixth Form College, had suffered a pulmonary embolism.

Callum had deep vein thrombosis, a condition which occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg.

The embolism occurs when the clot breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the lungs.

If the clot is big or the artery is clogged by many smaller clots, a pulmonary embolism can be fatal.

Karen said Callum had no signs of the condition, would regularly attend the gym and was a healthy young man.

“Callum didn’t die on his terms,” said Karen. “He didn’t want to leave us, he loved us and he loved life.”

At an inquest held in December, assistant coroner Jonathan Goodman recorded a conclusion Callum died as a result of natural causes.

There were initially fears his death may have been linked to drug use.

Karen said: “We know the police got it wrong at the inquest because as a family we knew the kind of person our Callum was.

“To read about that really hurt me as his mother and the rest of our family.

“We knew Callum occasionally smoked a joint to chill out. He was not into heavy drugs and the coroner concluded that he died of natural causes - a pulmonary embolism.”

At Callum’s funeral, which was held at Colchester Crematorium, 600 friends and well wishers turned out to pay their respects.

“There were people he hadn’t seen for years,” said Karen. “People from his time in the Army Cadets were there to say goodbye.

“He had previously wanted to join the Marines and he passed every test apart from one.”

Almost six months on from her son’s death, Karen has realised the void left behind by Callum’s loss will never be filled.

“He was only 22 but as a mum if I felt down he would cheer me up, in many ways he was old beyond his years,” she said.

“I feel it like an empty space in my chest, I feel it like a physical pain.

“I know he was popular, a lot of people approached me telling me stories about him.

“People were even messaging me on Facebook saying thank you for bringing him into the world, there were so many stories about him it made me cry.”

She added: “My son lived his life on his terms. He did listen and take advice from many that loved him, but sometimes he would work things out for himself.

“He knew how to make an impact and stand out for the better among work colleagues, friends and family. He wasn’t a follower, yet he wasn’t a rebel.

“He was funny, sensitive, loving and truly sincere, and he was a free spirit who lived in the moment.

“Callum was a dreamer who had hopes for the future and excelled in everything he did.

“I’m proud he was my boy and l always will be.”