A Liverpool FC fan who "lived and breathed" the club has died suddenly after feeling pain in his chest.
Nathan McKnight, from Bromborough, was at home with his mum watching Batman when he suddenly started to feel pain in his chest. The 19-year-old suffered from a number of conditions prior to his chest pain which included Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease which gradually reduced his mobility and independence, in addition to him then contending with cardiomyopathy, epilepsy, Addison's disease and severe scoliosis as his condition progressed.
Nathan called his mum into the room, who called an ambulance to take him to Arrowe Park Hospital. The 19-year-old went into cardiac arrest and despite a number of attempts to revive him he died on Monday, June 12.
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Nathan's oldest sister, Hayley Smith, 35, from Eastham, described how despite his serious conditions her brother remained "cheeky" and "never complained"
She told The ECHO: "He was always cheeky even despite all his illnesses he always had a huge smile on his face. He had lots of nieces and nephews who he was really close in age with who loved him.
"He lived and breathed his football and loved watching Liverpool FC. He also loved Marvel, he was actually booked to see the new Flash film in the cinema tomorrow [Thursday].
"I can't describe him in any other way, he was just cheeky, never complained and was just a lovely person."
Hayley said a memory that would always stick with her about her brother was how happy he would be after coming back from a Liverpool FC match. His brother-in-law, Jamie and best friend, Charlie, would take him to matches whenever they could get hold of wheelchair tickets.
She said: "He would always come home with the biggest grin on his face. It was few and far between going to matches because it's so difficult getting tickets, especially wheelchair ones, but I will always remember the look on his face.
"When he was younger he had five older sisters so would have a good crowd. He would always say 'I'm going to do a magic show' but it would be the same one every time.
"Whenever we played hide and seek he would always hide in the same cupboard. He was so cute."
Hayley said the family has been hit "unbelievably hard" by the loss of Nathan but added they're a "big family" and are all "rallying around" to support their mum, Elaine Walker.
The family made the "difficult decision" to set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Nathan's funeral. They set a target of £1,000 and have already received almost £3,000 in 24 hours.
Hayley said: "We are so one, grateful and two overwhelmed by the generosity of people, some who don't even know Nathan. It's been really comforting for us and especially my mum to read the comments.
"It was a difficult decision because we're quite proud and humble. Me and my sister could put some money towards it but it's a really big and unexpected amount.
"At first I said should we just do £500 and then get a credit card or a loan or something to pay the rest, then my sister said just put it at £1000 and even if we get £200 that's something [towards the funeral].
"We're just so overwhelmed and eternally grateful."
Nathan is survived by his mum Elaine Walker, five sisters Hayley, Laura, Beth and Eli. Brother-in-law's Jamie, James and Dave. Nieces and nephews Joseph, Alfie, Lucie, Noah, Delilah, Harry and Hunter.
To donate to Nathan's GoFundMe click here.
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