Popular Ben was a fighter to the end

ONE of the country’s youngest kidney transplant patients has died aged 20.

Ben Needham, of Denmark Way, Chadderton, was born with enlarged kidneys and underwent a transplant when he was only 11-months-old at Pendlebury Children’s Hospital.

Despite his shaky start in life, Ben refused to let his health set him back and grew into a confident young man who loved to socialise.

In 1998, Ben travelled to Belfast to compete in the British Transplant Games. He swept the board, winning a clutch of medals.

Ben gained newfound independence when he moved to Crewe two years ago to study for a degree in criminology and media.

But last Christmas, Ben was admitted to hospital after going to the doctors when he started to feel off colour. He was transferred to the Manchester Royal Infirmary but spent the whole of the festive season in a coma after picking up a chest infection.

Ben, a former pupil at Bare Trees Primary and The Radclyffe School, Chadderton, managed to recover but never really regained his full health and was eventually readmitted to hospital when his kidneys and liver started to fail.

He was on the waiting list for a double transplant when he picked up another infection. His weight plummeted to just over five stone and doctors warned Ben and his family that the end was near.

He died on in hospital on Sunday.

Ben’s dad, Paul Needham, said: “Ben managed to live a normal life and always enjoyed himself. This last year has taken us all by surprise because he has never suffered with the usual complications suffered by transplant patients.

“He has always managed to avoid them and he fought until the very end. We are all very proud of him.

“He was a brilliant lad and a fantastic brother to Joe.

“No-one had a bad word to say about him. He loved to talk and would chat to anyone of any age in his favourite watering hole, The Blue Club in Chadderton.

“There are more than 700 tributes on a special page on Facebook which just shows how many people want to pay their respects.”

Ben’s funeral will take place at St Mark’s Church in Chadderton on Friday, November 19, followed by internment at Hollinwood Crematorium and a party at The Blue Club in Victoria Street.