What happened on the day Alex Connerty died
“It’s hard to talk about how amazing he was,” says the mum of Alex Connerty, who sadly died last week, aged 19. Sue Connerty, 55, told the ECHO how her son was the “most lovable” and “biggest character".
She added: “If you had to ask someone who loved him ‘what is Alex Connerty like?’ they would say he has the biggest heart, biggest character, and kind. He has left a total void in our lives.”
Alex was born with a rare condition called MPD traipe syndrome, which meant his life was “never going to be easy.” Despite this, he was a “fighter” who battled on for 19 years until he unexpectedly died on Wednesday (January 15).
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Sue, from Maghull, recalled the heartbreaking moment she received a call from his carer, who was due to collect him from Thornton College, where he attended school, that day. She said: “He was at college when he took ill. He had told his teacher he wanted to come home. He was talking fine at this point and then he just lost his colour and his breathing went shallow. His tutor laid him down and told him to take deep breaths…then his lips just went blue.”
His tutor started performing CPR when paramedics arrived at the school to attend to Alex. At this time his parents were rushing to the school to get to their son. Alex’s dad, John Connerty, 57, said: “The traffic was so bad because it was school rush hour so as we got near the school I jumped out of the car, launched myself over a fence and sprinted into college.
“When I got there the paramedics were working on him and reality took over. A decision was made to take him to Alder Hey in the ambulance and as we got closer to hospital he took a bad turn, within minutes of being in hospital he had a cardiac arrest.”
Sadly, Alex died in hospital with his dad by his side, before his mum managed to make it. John added: “It was about 15 minutes later when Sue turned up and I had to tell her he had passed away which was the most horrendous thing to do after seeing your son asleep.”
Sue added: “I hadn't arrived because the traffic was so busy. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye or tell him how much I loved him, I know he knew but I didn't get chance and I just walked in there, in the room and just saw him. It was horrendous.”
Following his death, his mum says she feels like she has lost her “right arm.” She said: “As much as he was 19, he still needed support. It’s been like losing our right arm. Where kids go and do their own thing, Alex didn’t. I used to call him my little leech, I couldn't even go for a wee without him being there. It’s just weird being here without him.
“He would come home from college and he would sit for hours and chatter away, he would just talk so much. You would be sitting there falling asleep and he would still be talking, telling you to wake up. I can't praise him enough, he is just so loved. He had the biggest personality ever, everyone was touched by him and fell in love with him.”
She added: “I can't listen to his voice messages at the moment, I can't do anything because I don’t want to believe it’s happened. At the moment we’re still going to see him every day and holding his hands and asking him to send us signs, he is letting us know he is still there. I still feel in denial that he has gone. We had a holiday booked for Euro Disney and he was so excited, we had so many plans made for this year and now it's just…”
Sue recalled how Alex had recently started at Thornton College in September, but it had been “massive” for him. She said: He loved going every day, he loved his tutors, the students. His personality was so big and he lived for being around people. He loved it, loved banter, loved love.”
Wrestling was another big love in Alex’s life, Sue added: “His life for the past four years was all about wrestling. He absolutely loved it and it took over his life. We had been travelling across the north west with another family who we met through the charity to go to the wrestling and they both absolutely loved it, they became best friends.
“Last Saturday he was meant to be going to the wrestling with his dad and he was so excited to go and he wasn't able to make it because he passed last week. His dad, my husband, built up the strength and still went, he said he had to do it for Alex and when it started the wrestlers all did a ten bell salute for Alex and came out with armbands with his name on, it shows how loved he was in the community.”
Alex’s dad added: “I always said we failed and achieved a lot in life, me and Sue but one of the things we achieved was Alex being our son. He was an incredible person, from the moment he was born we knew it was going to be difficult. It's been a rollercoaster for 19 years but one we wouldn't change for anything.
“He has achieved more things than we could have dreamed of in his life. He has helped so many individuals because of who and what he was, his charity wouldn't have existed without him and because of his life. We have always been undoubtedly proud, he has achieved more things than we could have ever dreamed of.”
John said: “He loved life, every single moment of it. His zest for life was unbelievable, we thought it might be the end so many times over, you thought it was time to go to sleep now son but he always fought. He let us know, I used to joke and say he would say ‘sod that I’m not ready yet dad’.”
He continued: “Alex has a mum, dad, brother [30] and sister [27] who love him so much and he will never be forgotten.” The family wants to thank the “incredible” work of his college tutors and paramedics who helped him last Wednesday. John added: “One thing triggered in my mind is the amount of effort the paramedics did to try and save him. They never gave up at any time. And, the college staff who tried to make him comfortable and keep him breathing, were fantastic. None of the staff at the college should have had to go through that and their dedication to the children they care for is incredible.
“We just want to let the world know who this boy was and how many people he touched and we want to thank the community of Liverpool for the support they have given us, they funded to get us to the states to meet specialists all those years ago and that gave us the chance to set up our foundation.” A GoFundMe has been set up in memory of Alex, you can donate here.