Family tributes to ‘Declan Superboy’

A Scarborough couple have paid tribute to their “inspirational” son who died suddenly on his 15th birthday.

Declan Carney-Anderson, known to many by his nickname ‘Declan Superboy’, has passed away.

The battling youngster had a rare chromosome disorder and spent the first six years of his life in and out of hospital.

His mum Sarah, 45, said: “We were told when he was four months old that he was going to die and he fought and fought.

“He died on his birthday, still fighting. He was a unique, specialboy .” She said they had been

enjoying a family day, with a trip to see Santa and a visit to theChristmasmarketsinLeeds when the tragedy happened.

Sarah said that just moments before, Declan had been laughing with his brother Connor, who is three-and-a-half.

She praised the emergency services who came to their aid, saying, “They did everything they could”.

The family have since been inundated with messages of support from the many people in Scarborough and further afield who knew and loved Declan.

Many would follow his progress on a Facebook page called A Day in the Life of Declan Superboy.

Sarah said: “For a boy who neverspokeaword,heinspired families and their children to believe that more is possible.

“Weweretoldhewouldnever walk, but he used to walk for miles in his walker.

“He would pedal on his bike like the wind and people would come up and cheer him on.

“He drew people to him – he wasaspecialboywhoyoucould never forget.

“He lived by his nickname and knew that although he had a disability, he could achieve what he wanted to achieve.

“Heneverstoppedsmiling– hesmiledthrougheverything.”

The Springhead School pupil’s condition was so rare thatthereisnobodyelseknown to the medical profession with the same condition.

In2014Declanraised£1,500 by doing a sponsored walk along Marine Drive, with the money going to HCPT, a Yorkbased charity that paid for him to visit the pilgrimage destination of Lourdes in France.

The youngster also raised £150 for motor neurone disease charities by doing the “ice bucket challenge”.

Sarah said: “He absolutely loved life. He lived it to the full and never missed out on anything.

“He’s shown the world what a boy can do and what can be achieved.”

Afuneralservicewillbeheld today at 11.30am at St Peter’s ChurchinCastleRoad,followed by a party to celebrate Declan’s life at the Scarborough Arms. Anyone who knew Declan is welcome to attend.

Mum Sarah and Dad Craig are asking people to wear Christmas jumpers or bright clothing.