Family and friends of Michael Winterbone have paid tribute this week after the young science fiction fan died earlier this month.
Michael, 23 attended King James Community College and 6th form and has battled Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) all of his life.
He died in hospital on January 5th the day after he was admitted with heart problems. The hereditary condition also affected his brother Robert, who died in 2009 aged 29.
Parents Leslie and Yvonne, and sister Lorraine described Mr. Winterborne, who was wheelchair bound and suffered from chronic heart disease, as an avid Star Wars fan who loved computers and the internet.
His mother Yvonne said, “We were told that the life expectancy for DMD sufferers was 21, but Robert lived to 29 and Michael lived to 23.
“Michael was very quiet and quite introverted, but very witty. He loved researching things on the internet and playing games like Warhammer and World of Warcraft.
He thrived on information and loved animals and anything to do with science fiction.”
Sister Lorraine, who has a prize winning racing greyhound named Micky Robbie, in tribute to her two brothers said, “Whenever Michael said something, it was always really funny. He would be listening to conversations then would chip in with a comment that would have everyone laughing.
His father Leslie added, “He was one of those people who, if someone met him, he would touch their life and they would always remember him.”
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
