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Sportsman dies at transplant game | Sportsman dies at transplant game |
(1 day later) | |
Tributes have been paid to a man who had a heart transplant as a teenager and died during a preparation match for the World Transplant Games. | |
Ian Lewis-Jones, 34, had just finished bowling in the friendly cricket match at Longport, Weston-super-Mare, on Tuesday when he collapsed. | |
Team mates and paramedics were unable to revive the teacher, who was originally from St Asaph, Denbighshire. The former gold-medallist was due to marry after the games in August. | |
Mr Lewis-Jones won the gold for golf in Sydney in 1997, and silver and bronze medals for volleyball and golf in the 2005 games in Canada. | Mr Lewis-Jones won the gold for golf in Sydney in 1997, and silver and bronze medals for volleyball and golf in the 2005 games in Canada. |
The former head of history at Ysgol Bro Dyfi in Machynlleth, moved to Bristol last year to live with his fiancée, Claire Downer, a kidney transplant recipient and fellow athlete in the UK team. | The former head of history at Ysgol Bro Dyfi in Machynlleth, moved to Bristol last year to live with his fiancée, Claire Downer, a kidney transplant recipient and fellow athlete in the UK team. |
Close friend Alastair Hedderwick, who also took part in the cricket match, said Mr Lewis-Jones was a "popular, fun-loving" man who had devoted many years to promoting the transplant cause. | Close friend Alastair Hedderwick, who also took part in the cricket match, said Mr Lewis-Jones was a "popular, fun-loving" man who had devoted many years to promoting the transplant cause. |
"We're all devastated by his death," he said. | "We're all devastated by his death," he said. |
"He kept himself in great shape and was always relaxed, friendly and ready for a laugh." | "He kept himself in great shape and was always relaxed, friendly and ready for a laugh." |
Mr Lewis-Jones had developed a serious heart condition while he was a student at Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph. | Mr Lewis-Jones had developed a serious heart condition while he was a student at Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph. |
He was 17 when he underwent a transplant operation at the New Heart-New Start centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester in 1990. | He was 17 when he underwent a transplant operation at the New Heart-New Start centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester in 1990. |
Since he had his transplant at 17, he has made the most of every opportunity and has particularly excelled in sport Hospital spokeswoman | Since he had his transplant at 17, he has made the most of every opportunity and has particularly excelled in sport Hospital spokeswoman |
After making a full recovery, Mr Lewis-Jones went on to study at University College, Bangor, and two years after his operation, began competing in transplant games events. | After making a full recovery, Mr Lewis-Jones went on to study at University College, Bangor, and two years after his operation, began competing in transplant games events. |
A spokeswoman for the Transplant Team at Wythenshawe Hospital said everyone was "deeply saddened" by his death. | A spokeswoman for the Transplant Team at Wythenshawe Hospital said everyone was "deeply saddened" by his death. |
"Since he had his transplant at 17, he has made the most of every opportunity and has particularly excelled in sport," she said. | "Since he had his transplant at 17, he has made the most of every opportunity and has particularly excelled in sport," she said. |
"The staff have watched him grow up and make fantastic achievements, he was a great example of living a full life after transplant." | "The staff have watched him grow up and make fantastic achievements, he was a great example of living a full life after transplant." |
Lynne Holt, the 2007 World Transplant Games UK team manager, said he was a "much loved" member of the team. | Lynne Holt, the 2007 World Transplant Games UK team manager, said he was a "much loved" member of the team. |
"He was engaged to be married to Claire, another athlete on the UK Team, later this year after their return from the World Transplant Games in Bangkok," she said. | "He was engaged to be married to Claire, another athlete on the UK Team, later this year after their return from the World Transplant Games in Bangkok," she said. |
"He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones." | "He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones." |
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