Sportsman dies at transplant game

Ian Lewis-Jones was a "much loved" member of UK transplant team

Tributes have been paid to a man who had a heart transplant as a teenager and died during a preparation match for the World Transplant Games.

Ian Lewis-Jones, 34, had just finished bowling in the friendly cricket match at Longport, Weston-super-Mare, on Tuesday when he collapsed.

Team mates and paramedics were unable to revive the teacher, who was originally from St Asaph, Denbighshire. The former gold-medallist was due to marry after the games in August.

Mr Lewis-Jones won the gold for golf in Sydney in 1997, and silver and bronze medals for volleyball and golf in the 2005 games in Canada.

The former head of history at Ysgol Bro Dyfi in Machynlleth, moved to Bristol last year to live with his fiancée, Claire Downer, a kidney transplant recipient and fellow athlete in the UK team.

Close friend Alastair Hedderwick, who also took part in the cricket match, said Mr Lewis-Jones was a "popular, fun-loving" man who had devoted many years to promoting the transplant cause.

"We're all devastated by his death," he said.

"He kept himself in great shape and was always relaxed, friendly and ready for a laugh."

Mr Lewis-Jones had developed a serious heart condition while he was a student at Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph.

He was 17 when he underwent a transplant operation at the New Heart-New Start centre at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester in 1990.

Since he had his transplant at 17, he has made the most of every opportunity and has particularly excelled in sport Hospital spokeswoman

After making a full recovery, Mr Lewis-Jones went on to study at University College, Bangor, and two years after his operation, began competing in transplant games events.

A spokeswoman for the Transplant Team at Wythenshawe Hospital said everyone was "deeply saddened" by his death.

"Since he had his transplant at 17, he has made the most of every opportunity and has particularly excelled in sport," she said.

"The staff have watched him grow up and make fantastic achievements, he was a great example of living a full life after transplant."

Lynne Holt, the 2007 World Transplant Games UK team manager, said he was a "much loved" member of the team.

"He was engaged to be married to Claire, another athlete on the UK Team, later this year after their return from the World Transplant Games in Bangkok," she said.

"He will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones."