Tributes have been paid to a courageous ten-year-old boy who has died of cancer.

Declan Heath, of Ashley Road, Dovercourt, battled his illness for 18 months and helped raise money for research into the illness.

The youngster underwent a pioneering operation, which had never before been carried out on a child in Britain.

His father, Darren, said: "He fought the cancer head-on and he did everything in his power to get over his initial operation. He was special. He really was a trouper."

His mother, Sue, added: "I would rather have had him for ten years than not at all."

Declan was diagnosed with cancer in July 2002 and started having treatment at the London Middlesex Hospital.

Initially, it was thought the tumour was too large to operate on, but after a course of chemotherapy doctors decided Declan was strong enough.

After the seven-hour operation in February 2003, he was in intensive care for a week.

However, further tests revealed he had spots on his lungs, and his condition gradually worsened.

Declan asked to be christened and told his parents: "I know I'm going to heaven but they won't know where to put me because I will be in limbo."

The Rev Eoin Buchanan christened Declan, and later that same day, last Thursday, he died with his family by his side.

Published Thursday January 15, 2004

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