THE proud family of inspirational Chris Carberry, who died on Thursday aged 24, want people to remember him as a person who “never gave up”.

Chris, from Rainford, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma in December 2015.

During his fight with the disease, which started at the age of 19, former bricklayer Chris had his left leg amputated in March 2016 – a decision he described at the time as “leg or life”.

Chris’ cancer journey has seen him blog about these experiences, writing words that have inspired others. This contributed to him winning the Pride of St Helens Courage Award.

However, after four and a half years fighting cancer and raising money for alternative treatments abroad, his family announced on Thursday, May 7 that he had died in Willowbrook Hospice at 12.45pm.

Paying tribute to him, his mum Sarah, 51, said: “Chris was kind, funny and inspiring and packed more into his 24 years than most people do in their entire lives. We are more than proud of him, we are in awe of him.

“Right from the beginning of his fight with osteosarcoma, Chris was determined to be the one person who beat this thing, and he did amazingly.

“He has undergone four major operations, lost his leg, undergone chemo and radiotherapy and never once gave up.

“On March 10 we were with him while he was having dendritic cell therapy in Spain and he took a funny turn, and we got a special private plane back and took him straight to Willowbrook. He came home after two weeks then took a turn again and died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday.

“You should never have to bury your children, but like the tributes show on Facebook, Chris inspired so many in his 24 years.

"Thousands of people have paid tribute to him, including celebrities, because he really was a legend and not just to us and St Helens but worldwide.

“If people remember him for anything I hope it is this: Chris never gave up and I hope others will remember that, because he lasted four and a half years with this disease that has a 70 per cent mortality rate. He gave it his all.

“We could not be more proud of our incredible son.”

Chris’s funeral will take place on Friday, May 29 at St Helens Crematorium and it will be live streamed on his Facebook page The Next Step for Chris.

Due to restrictions on funeral attendees due to Coronavirus, his family are asking people to form a guard on honour for Chris - while adhering to social distancing - from Rainford and down to St Helens Crematorium.

They ask if people will applaud for him as his hearse passes.

They will also be holding a service in the future for everyone to attend at Greenacres, once coronavirus restrictions are over, as a celebration of Chris’s life.