THE friends and family of a York man who died while waiting for a lung transplant have described him as a “hero and a fighter”.

Despite being born with cystic fibrosis and being diagnosed with diabetes at the age of seven, Andrew Tiplady dedicated much of his adult life to raising awareness of the lung disease which cut short his life at the age of 31.

Andrew’s father, Mike, has now called on more people to sign up to the organ donor register and said his son might be alive now if more people would volunteer to donate.

As recently as October, Andrew was still being considered for a full transplant. But although a possible donor was found in Newcastle, the organs were incompatible and Andrew died on February 1.

“Help somebody to live after you die,” said his father.

“He could have been saved if he had got some lungs in time, but it just wasn’t to be.”

Andrew, from Haxby, was a former pupil of Easingwold School. Steve Skeoch, a school friend said: “He was a fighter – he never let anything get on top of him. No matter how poorly he was he never let it show.

“He was switched-on too – especially with computers. He could diagnose a problem over the phone and tell you how to put it right. It’s not just the people who he met who will miss him; he had a big friend-base on the internet too.”

Andrew’s interest in computers led him to a job in a computer shop after school. However, he had only been in the job a matter of days when he suffered a collapsed lung and doctors told him he would be unable to work again.

Not to be deterred, Andrew threw himself in to charity work and at 18-years-old, was one of the co-founders of the York branch of Breathe Easy, the British Lung Foundation’s national support network .

Dave Hardy, the current chairman, said he was devastated by the death of his friend and described him as a stalwart within the organisation.

He said: “Soldiers who go to war are heroes, but they choose to do what they do. Andrew didn’t have a choice, but he was still a hero.

“In the ten years I have known him I have never known him complain and he has helped us in any way he could. He is irreplaceable.”

Another friend, Luke Orwin, described Andrew as a “fighter to the end”.

“Most people get a cold and complain about,” he said. “Andrew had a life-threatening illness and never complained. The amount of work he has done for Breathe Easy is astronomical.”

In the last months of his life, while waiting for his lung transplant, Andrew spent more time on Ward 34 at York Hospital, as his illness left him increasingly susceptible to infections.

His father said: “At the end his infection levels went through the roof and his body couldn’t take any more.” Paying tribute to Andrew, he said: “He was brilliant. I would say that because he’s my son, but he never moaned and was always active.”

Mr Tiplady thanked the staff of Ward 34 for the “love and care” his son received in his final months.

Andrew’s funeral takes place in York Crematorium at 12.20pm on Friday, February 18.

Anyone attending is encouraged to wear bright rock’n’roll-style clothing to reflect Andrew’s deep love of the music.


Giving support

THE York branch of Breathe Easy has been providing support for lung disease patients and their carers for more than a decade. Over the years the group has raised thousands of pounds and provided equipment for hospitals and GP surgeries in the York area. The group holds meetings on the first Wednesday of every month between 1.30pm and 3pm at Huntington Working Men’s Club in North Moor Road.

If you would like more information, or you wish to make a donation, visit breatheeasyyork.co.uk


Father’s appeal for more organ donors

THE father of the 31-year-old York man who died while waiting for a double lung transplant is the latest to call for people to sign up the organ donor register.

Mike Tiplady, from Haxby, said his son, Andrew, might be alive today if more people would agree to donate their organs after their death.

The Press ran its Lifesavers campaign last year, encouraging thousands of people to sign up to the register.

Though the campaign has now been wound down, the importance of signing up to donate your organs after your death has never been greater.

Over the past 12 months, The Press has featured a number of stories showing what organ donation can bring to someone who is desperately ill.

Ashley Parker was told at the age of 24 he had just five years to live unless he could find a new kidney.

Despite having a rare blood group, doctors were able to find a matching donor and now, four years on, Ashley is a big supporter of the register.

Claire Davies, of Acomb, is another transplant recipient who was only too happy to back the Lifesavers campaign.

After experiencing the devastation of being found unsuitable for three previous heart transplants, it was fourth time lucky for Claire in 2009 and a perfect match was found.

At the time, the 34-old-old likened it to winning a lottery jackpot.

Joanne Turner, specialist organ donation nurse at York Hospital, said: “The Lifesavers campaign may have finished in December but this story highlights that the need for people to join the Organ Donor Register never goes away.

“Sadly around three people die every day having not had the transplant they needed to save their life, by joining the Organ Donor register you can make a difference.”

To join the Organ Donor Register or get more information, phone 0300 1232323, visit organdonation.nhs.uk or text SAVE to 84118.