Andrea Annear died aged 45 (Picture: Warren Smith)

A woman who, along with her partner, formed Britain’s first married couple with Down’s syndrome has died 11 years after walking down the aisle.

Andrea Annear passed away this week, aged 45.

She defied the odds to marry childhood sweetheart Paul in 2004 after meeting in a home for kids with learning difficulties.

Doctors and other officials had previously warned against getting hitched and pregnant as it would put too much strain on Andrea’s heart.


But, despite the risks, she walked the aisle in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

The happy couple defied the odds to get married (Picture: Warren Smith)

Andrea told the Daily Mail in 2006: ‘I love Paul this much. Now he is my husband I am so proud.



‘I give him a kiss in the morning when he leaves for work, and I shout after him “I love you, Paul” and he says “I love you, Andrea”, and I watch him as he walks all the way down the road.

‘I know that some people say we should not have got married, but why not? We love each other very much and we look after each other.’

Andrea died from heart failure.

They celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last September.

Andrea died from heart failure (Picture: Warren Smith)