TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved former Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan, Abergele, pupil who died after contracting swine flu during a family holiday in Spain.
David Hayes died in Reus Hospital near Barcelona, after suffering a heart attack stemming from developing swine flu while in the resort earlier this month. His body was flown back to Britain at the weekend.
David, 29, who suffered from Down’s Syndrome, had been on holiday with family members including his parents, Tom and Joan, and sister Jane Matthews and her partner Alex, when he was taken ill.
The family have described David, who lived in Llysfaen with his parents, as a “very special person who spread joy and happiness wherever he went” and said he had been very happy on his holiday before he died.
Jane, of St Asaph, said: "David was an outgoing person and was very sociable. He had a lot of groups that he went to and had lots of friends.
"We couldn't walk down the street in Abergele, Rhyl or Colwyn Bay without half a dozen people stopping to stay hello.
"He will be sadly missed by the whole family. We'd like to thank everyone who has sent us their condolences, it's been overwhelming."
The family have also revealed how unexpected the loss of David was, having had no prior indication of the tragedy they would suffer while in Spain.
Jane added: “This has been a huge shock for the whole family. He did not have any health issues. It was his heart that gave way.
“We did not find out until the next day that a blood test had come back positive for influenza.”
David enjoyed activities including cookery, swimming, bowling and line-dancing and retained strong links with staff at Emrys ap Iwan, where he had been the first Down’s Syndrome pupil to be fully integrated into the school’s mainstream education programme.
Carole Ratcliffe, head of additional learning at the school, said: “David brought many benefits to the school as a hole. Teachers learnt to adapt methods and approach and pupils saw David as a mainstream pupil.
“He was totally the pioneer for the way he led the way forward for us and we are very sad to hear of his death.”
David’s funeral will be held on Friday ((Oct 23)) at St Margaret’s Church, Bodelwyddan at 1pm. It will be followed by committal at Colwyn Bay Crematorium at 2.30pm. Refreshments will be served at 3.15pm at Colwyn Bay Cricket Club, Rhos-on-Sea, with all welcome and colourful clothing encouraged to celebrate David’s life.