The heartbroken family of a boy left brain-damaged after jumping off a pier have made the agonising decision to move him to end-of-life care.

Jack Dolan, 15, was knocked unconscious after performing a ‘flip’ into the water from Stone Pier in Margate, prompting a large emergency response.

The teenager was airlifted to London’s King’s College Hospital but despite doctors’ best efforts, an MRI scan showed he had no brain activity.

Having been placed on life support, his stepdad David Dolan and mum Lisa, of Chatham, have decided to move their “amazing”, fun-loving son into a hospice for end-of-life care in the coming days.

However, they have told how they are taking comfort in the fact Jack would have been smiling and laughing as he took the fateful leap.

Speaking to KentOnline this morning, Mr Dolan - who raised Jack as his own from a young age - bravely explained how the “freak accident” unfolded at about 1.30pm on Sunday, June 23.

“It was the first time we’d ever let him go to the beach by himself,” Mr Dolan said.

“We’d always been quite restrictive but we were good parents and always made sure he was safe - but at 15-and-a-half you’ve got to start giving them a little bit of freedom.

“This was a freak accident - the kind you never expect your child, your son, to be in, but he did it smiling and the last thing he will remember is being the centre of attention and he loved that.”

The 35-year-old said Jack, who has two sisters, was a friendly and mischievous boy, who loved being active and spending time with friends.

Mrs Dolan said her son had the “kindest soul and the purest heart”.

“He loved most people and tried his best to always cheer up his friends and family,” the 33-year-old said.

“He was misunderstood sometimes but he always wanted the best to shine out of everyone.”

Although the Howard School pupil has ADHD, his family says it made him more enthusiastic and outgoing.

“He was riddled with ADHD so he was as wild as they come but he was good with it,” continued Mr Dolan.

“He would make friends in a room of any group of people because he was so talkative.

“He had so many interests but because he was so erratic he would try and do it all at once - riding his bike while playing football, while talking to his friends on the phone.”

Mr Dolan says that even if he had been with his son at the time, the tragic accident may still have occurred.

“We’ve got a video of him doing the exact same flip in Egypt and you can see that big smile on his face as he runs to do his flip,” he added.

“We suspect he overdid the jump, not realised how high that pier was, hit his face on the water, winded himself and drowned - but he did that smiling, laughing, knowing that he was showing off.

“His friends that were with him did amazing and raised the alarm, contacted us and did all they could.

“But even if I was there, it would have happened because I was the worst influence with things like that.”

Doctors have told the parents the severe brain damage their boy has suffered means were he to wake up, he would be unable to live unassisted.

The family have decided to move him into a hospice for end-of-life care.

“We’re opting for him to go to a hospice with him remaining on life support so it’s a nice environment for him when they turn the machines off and he may be able to breathe for a time,” said Mr Dolan.

“But he’s pretty much in a vegetative state. All he will ever be able to do is breathe but he can’t swallow or live unassisted, but that won’t last for long because his brain is too severely damaged.

“It will only be a matter of time before he passes if he comes off the life-support."

A close family friend has launched an online fundraiser to help the Dolans with the costs associated with Jack’s care.

The JustGiving page has already raised more £4,000 as donations and well-wishes continue to come in for the grieving family.

Mrs Dolan added: “My heart is forever broken.

“I’ll forever miss my best friend who’s given me so much and I’ll be eternally grateful for that.”