Family say 'he's a hero' after 'final act' of man, 23, after his death

A man’s incredible gesture before he died is saving lives four years on.

Duncan Browne, from Kirkby, was assaulted on Hanover Street as he waited for a taxi on July 4, 2021. The 23-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital the following day.

Michael McLoughlin, of Torus Road, Old Swan, was jailed for nine years and four months for manslaughter for attacking Duncan with a "catastrophic injury punch". Terrence Kerwin, who also hit Michael as he tried to get into a black cab, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for assault causing actual bodily harm.

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Speaking to the ECHO four years on, his cousin Mick Carter said: “He was a well-loved character in the area. He loved going to gigs. He had a girlfriend who he had plans to travel with. He was a fun loving, life-loving character who had his life taken away.”

The “close knit” family fondly remember the numerous fishing trips, football matches and festivals they went to with Duncan, who wanted to be a firefighter.

Mick, 39, also from Kirkby, said the type of person Duncan was was summed up by his view on organ donation. He said: “He spoke to his mum and dad, Cathay and Colin. He said, 'if I ever die, I want to be an organ donor, I want to help people'.

Speaking shortly after Duncan's death, John Browne praised his grandson's 'final act'. He said: “He donated his organs. Even though it was very traumatic for the family, it was the right thing to do. We have been told now two kids have shared his liver and two adults had a kidney each, so he saved four lives. He is a hero.”

Mick is part of Duncan’s huge Irish family. In the last few years, they have come together to remember him and raise money for the Walton Centre, a UK-leading neurological hospital in Fazakerley.

Mick said: “Because of the help we got from the Walton Centre, we want to give back as much as we can.”

Last year, 10 family members and friends of Duncan travelled the full length of the Leeds Liverpool canal using five inflatable canoes, raising over £10,000 which provided new equipment for the hospital.

The love for Duncan in Merseyside was proven by what happened at the end of their journey. Mick said: “We all let off blue flares in respect of Duncan. Hundreds of people were there. It was an emotional time. We weren’t really expecting it.”

This was just one event hosted to raise money for charity in Duncan’s memory. Mick said: “We also did a charity golf day. A couple of cousins from London did a skydive. We also set up a festival for Duncan called the Deebee Festival."

This year, Mick and others will be travelling down the canal again, this time in kayaks. He argues this will be the first event of many to come.

He said: “Looking to the year ahead, we’ve got canoeing, we’ve got a got golf day and a charity football match which will be Kingfisher v Walton Prison. We’re abseiling down the cathedral and abseiling down Anfield. Then we've got the Deebee Festival with live music.

“We’ve committed to climb Kilimanjaro. I’ve definitely got a five year plan of where we want to go. Speaking to the Walton Centre, they've said we want to have a plan of where we spend it.”

This year's Debee Festival will be held on Bracknell Avenue in the centre of Kirkby on September 7 with further information available here. The kayaking challenge will begin tomorrow (May 15) in Leeds, with participants set to arrive in Liverpool on Sunday. You can find out more here.

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