TRIBUTES have been paid to a loving father-of-two who lost his fight with cystic fibrosis.

Blackburn man Dean Oates-Readett died in the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre in Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, after contracting flu at the start of March.

Described by family and friends as an ‘inspirational’ and ‘strong’ man, they said the 46-year-old never let his condition get in the way of living his life to the full, despite his often punishing daily routine.

His wife Joanne, who he had been with for more than 19 years, said: “He was a gentle but strong-minded man with a hilarious sense of humour.

“He played jokes on people all of the time and we laughed a lot throughout our life together.”

Dean was diagnosed with CF when he was two-and-a-half and he spent a lot of time in hospital with his mother Pat, the woman wife Joanne credits for his ‘fighting spirit’.

As he grew older, met his wife and eventually had children, Dean would get up every morning at 6am to complete two hours of treatment before leaving to go to work at Premier Steel in Blackburn.

Upon returning home in the evening he would spend another two hours completing his physio and taking nebulisers before spending some time with the children before bed.

Joanne said: “He was very mentally strong and knew he had to be organised with his medicine and time to make sure he was as healthy as possible for his children and me.”

Dean and Joanne met in 2000 and were engaged within three months and married shortly after.

Males with CF are unable to naturally have children, so after their marriage Joanne and Dean underwent IVF and shortly after, 12-year-old Leah was born. The couple later had a son, Jack, who is now five.

Joanne said: “Fatherhood definitely suited him and he devoted all his limited spare time to them.

“He did everything and more for his children and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them. They were always at the forefront of his mind. He was so proud of them and the people they are growing into.”

Dean came down with flu around three weeks ago and in the end became overwhelmed by his CF.

Joanne said: “Throughout it all we have laughed and he definitely found a lot of pleasure in the simplest things in life - meal times with his kids, watching fireworks in the car (because it was too cold for him to be outside) or watching films with his children on the settee. He didn’t need anything fancy to be happy.

“The hospital that always looked after him was Wythenshawe and he started going there when he turned 16. He had known some of the staff there longer than he knew me. The doctors, nurses and physios were amazing - they became like part of our family - they helped him immeasurably with all aspects of his life and there’s no doubt in my mind that he loved them and was so grateful to them. As am I and the rest of his family.”

Dean’s funeral will take place on March 26 at St Albans Church in Great Harwood, where Rovers fan Dean had specifically requested no Claret to be worn!

Donations to the Manchester Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre at Wythenshawe in Dean’s memory would be gratefully received.

Joanne added: “We were so lucky to have Dean and all his family will miss him so much.”