Birthday boy dies in his dad’s arms

Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date online: 05 February 2009

A schoolboy died in his father’s arms as he prepared to open his 12th birthday presents and cards.

Our Lady’s RC School pupil Martin Christopher Glazier-Macrae suffered a massive asthma attack at his home in Cardwell Street, Hathershaw, which brought on heart failure.
Only a day earlier, he had been happily throwing snowballs with his friends.

His father Duncan, a single parent, frantically tried to revive his only child as he waited for paramedics on Monday morning.

The ambulance crew carried on the fight as he was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital. But it was too late.

Today, Martin’s aunt Kathleen Macrae, Duncan’s sister, said: “We can’t speak too highly of the paramedics and hospital staff, but Duncan knew in his heart that Martin had died when he held him in his arms.”

The schoolboy — whose mother Angela died when he was three —and his father were inseparable.

She added: “Duncan was an HGV driver but gave up work to bring up Martin. There was no dividing line between them.

“Martin was looking forward to his birthday and had given me his list which I still have in my bag.

“He loved his computer and PlayStation, but he especially liked Lego, and the more complex kits for 13 and 14-year-olds.

“His dad and I had joined together to buy him an expensive set. Martin got up for his birthday presents on Monday morning but had the attack and died. He had a bit of an attack earlier, and seemed to calm down, but then he told his dad he was going to faint. He then died in his arms. He was diagnosed at six-months-old with infantile asthma but we hoped he would grow out of it.

“He loved his school and was a very clever, practical and imaginative boy, very quick to pick things up. I feel his life should be recognised, because he and his dad struggled through.”

Martin was also a former pupil at SS Aiden and Oswald’s Primary School in Royton.

His aunt, who lives in Lord Street, Oldham, has spoken to the chaplain at Our Lady’s and is hoping to have school friends at his funeral at St Patrick’s Church in Oldham, on February 23, at 1pm, which will also include school hymns.