Courageous south Essex teenager Rachel Middleton has lost her fight for life - days after appealing for an organ donor to come forward.

Rachel, 18, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, had been waiting more than two years for a heart and lungs transplant and went on television to plead for help.

But no suitable donor could be found and the youngster died on Monday night at the world-renowned Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, where she had been a patient for the past three months. Her parents Steve and Patricia were at her side.

Steve, of Lytton Road, Chadwell St Mary, said: "It has been a dreadful day but we are keen to continue the campaign for people to come forward and donate organs.

"It is too late for Rachel but the more people who carry donor cards the better. We will keep fighting to make this possible."

Rachel, who was born with the hereditary disease, received medication three times a day and in her final weeks weighed just four stone.

She had said she was not frightened by the thought of dying but was sad about the consequences.

She added: "I know what I will be leaving behind - my mum and dad and everyone. I am not being brave, I have no choice.

"I have never felt sorry for myself and asked why me?"

Rachel was put on a waiting list for a heart, lungs and liver transplant in October 1998. Donor experts scoured the world for suitable tissue-matched donors, but none could be found.

At the weekend and again yesterday (Monday), Rachel was featured on television as part of a campaign to persuade more people to carry donor cards.

Brave - Rachel, pictured at the weekend, said she was not frightened of dying

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.