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The football fan described as Hillsborough's 97th victim - who was left severely brain damaged 25 years after the disaster - today attended his first memorial service for the tragedy.

Andrew Devine joined nearly 30,000 people at Anfield to remember those who died on the Leppings Lane terraces in Sheffield exactly two-and-a-half decades ago.

The 22-year-old, now 47, fell into a coma when his brain was deprived of oxygen in the crush and his condition has barely improved.

Confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak and able to eat only pureed food, world-acclaimed health experts gave Andrew, from Mossely Hill, Merseyside, just six months to live, but he has defied the odds to remain alive for a quarter of a century.

Proud sister Wendy, 44, said: "Our hearts go out to families who lost loved ones, and we have always supported them.

"We're so glad Andrew will be there for the first time at this year's memorial service because it's important to show support."

Andrew is part of a loving family who ensure he spends valuable time with a physio and enjoys sessions in a hydrotherapy pool and sensory room while every family occasion is geared around the former post office worker.

He spent six weeks in a Sheffield hospital after the disaster and was later transferred to the young disabled unit at Fazakerely Hospital in Liverpool, back in his home city.

After the tragedy, Andrew was put on a life-support machine and his condition through the years was described as “minimally conscious”.

Andrew is now an uncle with four nephews and two nieces and his family are buoyed by him being able to consume pureed food which was previously impossible as a lack of a swallow reflex meant feeding him would leave him dangerously choking.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles and Margaret Thatcher visited Andrew and his family in the hospital but it was the late England and Liverpool captain Emlyn Hughes whose kindness stood out in those first days.

Wendy said: “There have been a lot of tears over the years, but we are lucky. Andrew survived, he is living at home with his mum and dad – and with 24-hour professional care – and is loved and cared for by his family.

"He is the centre of the family and the glue which holds us together.

“We are a tremendously close family and Andrew is a big part of that. A lot of families break apart, with family members living and working in different parts of the country, but we’ve remained together for Andrew.

"And family feuds are not an option for our family, because we have something far more important to do – be there for Andrew, the most important member of the family."

Brother Graham, 36, adds: “It’s not just day to day life, it’s everything – Christmas arrangements for example. Everything is geared towards Andrew.”

Wendy added: "The night before he came in as I was about to go to bed and we ended up having a really good catch-up. I have always been very grateful for that.”

“Andrew is totally immobile and to keep a totally immobile man in his late 40s healthy is no mean feat.

“The priority now is to keep him healthy and give him the best possible quality of life – and he does have a good life."