The parents of a 17-year-old boy who died after collapsing at Eton have said they were forced to endure an 'agonising' 10-month post-mortem delay.Raphaël Pryor was a 'fit and healthy young man' before he collapsed during the historic Field Game at Eton College, Berkshire, and later died.After waiting nearly a year for a full post-mortem report, his parents have urged Health Secretary James Murray to act on the 'chronic shortage' of paediatric and perinatal pathologists.These doctors specialise in post-mortem examinations after the unexplained death of a baby or child, to help families understand the cause of death and establish whether there are any inherited conditions.Raphaël's mother, Ms Vandenbroucke, said that no family should have to endure such a long wait for their child's post-mortem report.'Raphaël was our only child. He was full of life, active and loved by everyone who knew him,' she said. 'When he died so suddenly, our world stopped.'Waiting 10 months for the post-mortem report was agony. How can a healthy boy drop dead just like that? What did we miss? Was there any inherited family condition?'She continued: 'Every delay means parents spending another day without knowing why their child died. It means more nights lying awake with the same unanswered questions.' Raphaël Pryor, 17, collapsed while playing in the Field Game at Eton College and later died Raphaël's mother, Sabine Vandenbroucke, said no parents should have to endure a 10-month wait for their child's post-mortem Michael Pryor and his wife Sabine have urged the Health Secretary to take action on the shortage of paediatriciansBut a nationwide shortage of experts in the field means bereaved families must wait, delaying potentially lifesaving screenings for relatives who could be at risk.A Royal College of Pathologists report published last November found that there were just 52 paediatric and perinatal pathology consultants across the UK and 37 per cent of positions were vacant.The report warned that there were no consultants in Northern Ireland, the Midlands and the South West of England, forcing families in these areas to rely on services elsewhere.The report also found that one in five families waited at least six months for a post-mortem after the death of their child or baby. A 10-year government health plan for England committed to creating 1,000 specialty training posts over the next three years has been made to focus on the areas struggling most.Raphaël's father, Mr Pryor said: 'We cannot bring Raphaël back, but we can try to stop other families being left in the same painful uncertainty.'The Government has already promised 1,000 new specialty training posts. We are asking for just 37 of them to be used to rebuild this vital service.'When a child dies, every day without answers matters. The Health Secretary should not allow more families to be left waiting month after month.'Dr Clair Evans, of the Royal College of Pathologists, said: 'Paediatric and perinatal pathology services are in a state of collapse.'Paediatric and perinatal pathologists are working continuously under significant pressure to provide high-quality care but this is leading to stress and burnout.'This leads to the workforce being unable to meet demand, leaving bereaved families waiting for answers after the death of a child.'Dr Evans warned that the healthcare system will come under increased pressure as more consultant positions open.'There are a substantial number of vacant consultant posts and a dwindling number of resident doctors coming into the specialty,' she said. 'Without urgent action, this critical situation will only get worse. 'Currently the vacancy rate is 37% across the specialty. Thirteen of the UK's 52 consultants are also due to retire in the next five years, while only 13 doctors are currently training to replace them.'We are asking Government to earmark just 37 of its promised new specialty training posts over the next five years for paediatric and perinatal pathology before more services collapse and more families are left waiting.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts are with Sabine and Michael following the devastating loss of Raphaël.'Bereaved parents have experienced the unthinkable and any avoidable distress to families in this heartbreaking position is unacceptable.'We will ensure the right people are in the right places in the NHS by creating 4,500 additional training placements as part of the agreement reached with resident doctors.'We will prioritise training posts to ensure they focus on the areas of greatest need.'