Ian Richard Ellis, of Tan y Clawdd, Johnstown, near Wrexham, died during the early hours of December 30 with his devoted father Phil at his hospital bedside.

His mother Eirawen and sister Nia, 20, told the Evening Leader that more than 150 sympathy cards had been received and dozens of bouquets of flowers.

Tributes have also been pouring in for the popular youngster on his Facebook page and an internet forum for N Gamer magazine to which he contributed.

Ian, who was 24 on December 13, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was just 15 months old.

When he was young he was treated at Wrexham Maelor Hospital but once he was 18 had to go to Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool to use adult facilities for lung care.

He took tablets to help the condition and his parents later learnt how to inject intravenous antibiotics at home to reduce hospital trips to Liverpool.

But in September his condition deteriorated when one of his lungs collapsed.

His father Phil said: "Just before Christmas he went into hospital for a week. He would always come in and out of hospital we were used to it.

His lungs had collapsed five times in 12 months.

"He was home for Christmas but on Boxing Day he said he would have to go to hospital because he couldn't breathe."

Ian went to Broadgreen Hospital where his condition deteriorated and doctors made the decision not to resuscitate him because his lungs were too weak.

Phil watched his son take his last breath at 4.45am.

"He only had a matter of days left and his lungs came to the end of their life," he said, "It was gutting to say goodbye."

Ian decided not to have a lung transplant because of the high chance of his body rejecting the new organ.

His mother Eirawen said: "He was very strong willed and independent. He made his mind up what was right for him."

Ian went to Johnstown Infants and Johnstown Junior School before going on to The Maelor School in Penley.

After leaving school he worked full time at Tesco in Wrexham but later reduced his hours to cope with the condition.

Ian's family and friends have raised more than £10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust through charity bike rides, charity marathons and collections and the Evening Leader has featured stories about the fundraising efforts.

His sister Nia said: "Hopefully the money will help for the future to find a cure for cystic fibrosis."

Ian was a keen comic book and figure collector and was described as a "shrewd businessman" by Nia for selling items on eBay.

He spent time visiting his girlfriend of four months Hannah Nevitt, who lives in Worcester.

He also followed Manchester United and loved playing on games consoles such as his Nintendo Wii and Gamecube.

The family has enjoyed many holidays together, to Florida, New York, Paris and Spain.

Phil added: "He enjoyed his life even though it was short. He had an incredible laugh and a fantastic sense of humour.

"We feel very lucky to have had time with him and he'd have changed everybody he met for the better."

The funeral service will be held tomorrow at Bethel School Room, Ponciau, at 3pm, followed by burial at Rhos Cemetery.

Family flowers only and donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Fund.

Enquiries to the funeral directors on 01978 846519.

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