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Tributes have been paid to the brave and brilliant fundraiser, campaigner and photographer James Dunn who has passed away at the age of 24.

James, from Whiston, had Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of genetic skin conditions which cause the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch. Sufferers of EB are sometimes referred to as having “butterfly skin” due to their layers of skin often being as fragile as the wings of a butterfly.

He had been courageously battling skin cancer for a second time and underwent a partial amputation of his left arm earlier this year. He died in Whiston Hospital in the early hours of Saturday morning, surrounded by his beloved family – mum and dad Lesley and Kenny, sister Gemma, 29, and her husband, Kieren, 30.

Dad Kenny fought back his tears to tell the ECHO: “James, our beautiful, funny, brave son and brother – we were very blessed to have had you for so many wonderful and happy years. You made our lives the best we could have ever hoped for.

“We loved you so much – and thank you to everyone who has been a part of James’s wonderful life. And as his saying goes ‘Live! Laugh! Love! Always keep on smiling!’”

Kenny revealed that James had been admitted to hospital on Easter Monday, and explained: “We then discovered he had pneumonia. He had never complained about his breathing but a chest x-ray showed one of his lungs had collapsed.

“Everything caught up with him in the end, but he was so pleased to have enjoyed two family holidays recently – in Wales and in Spain. He fitted so much into his life and also helped so many other people. He was an inspiration and we are so proud of him.”

Late last year, James launched the £500,000 #FightEB campaign to help find a cure for his deadly skin condition – before, shortly afterwards, revealing he was battling cancer again.

He told the ECHO: “Time has probably run out for me, but I want every other person being born into this world with EB to get to their 24th birthday and know they have another 30 or 40 years ahead of them – not like me, getting to my 24th birthday and knowing it might be one of my last.”

Though he added: “I am too young to pass away with this condition and I don’t want to. I want to fight and beat EB.”

And he fought to the very end.

As part of his fundraising and awareness-raising, James met and photographed many famous people, and also appeared on television on numerous occasions.

Susanna Reid, co-host of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, tweeted: “Heartbroken to hear of the death of inspirational EB campaigner James Dunn. Charismatic, brave, talented. He spoke to us in February about how he dealt with the painful skin condition. Huge love to his family as they cope with their loss.”

James also inspired actor Tom Holland, who said of him: “He was one of the bravest people I have ever met.”

DEBRA, the UK charity supporting those affected by EB, announced the sad news on social media, and said: “Our thoughts are with his family. We will all miss him and his incredible positivity. Rest in peace, James.”

And boxing promoter and manager Frank Warren tweeted: “We are very sad to hear of the passing of @CharityDEBRA member James Dunn. He was an inspirational young man. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Rest in peace, James.”

In 2016, James’s life was featured on BBC2’s The Big Life Fix With Simon Reeve. Award-winning design engineer Jude Pullen made it possible for James to operate his camera by himself – via a specially-designed app – meaning he would no longer have to rely on his dad to help him take pictures.

James, whose bandages were changed daily by his mum, told Jude on the show: “It’s amazing, life-changing – I can’t thank you enough.”

He also stressed just how important photography was to his life – and in helping him to leave a legacy. He said: “While I’m here I’m having fun, making memories and leaving something behind – making memories for other people to look at.”

The always incredibly-positive young man added: “I want people to remember that this is what I enjoyed and this is where I found happiness.”