A "hero" who repeatedly defied the odds to live life to the full despite being having cystic fibrosis and a double lung transplant has been remembered as a man of "extraordinary courage" and a "gentleman" following his death aged 50.
Mark Allen, a press officer with Halton Borough Council, died on Wednesday in hospital with his girlfriend Ela and mother Maureen Allen at his side after taking ill during the preceding days. He had just turned 50 in October.
What might seem at first to many a tender age for 2022, barely out of his 40s, belies a life packed with adventure, achievement and friendships that flourished around the world, all against the backdrop of repeatedly thwarting the medical hardships he endured his entire life.
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Mark was born with the chronic condition cystic fibrosis, and doctors told his parents he wouldn’t make it to his teens.
Instead of that bleak fate, globe-trotting Mark seized the chance to live, qualifying and working as a journalist on the Wolverhampton Express and Star, Lichfield Mercury, Staffordshire Newsletter and Cannock Chronicle, and living in Australia, South Korea, Holland and the USA.
His time abroad included working as a teacher.
A keen music fan, he played keyboard in the transplant band Gifted Organs, who gained national publicity and used the platform to encourage people to sign up for organ donation before opt-out was brought in, and for people to discuss their wishes with their families.
Away from the studio, Lichfield-born Mark played table tennis and his skill with the bat secured him a weighty haul of medals including golds at the British, European and World Transplant Games, and the honour of acting as Paralympic torch-bearer.
Mark’s eclectic life was underpinned by an apparent languid resilience that was occasionally called to the fore as he cheated death multiple times including when a bout of pneumonia ravaged his lungs in South Korea in his 30s, which led to him receiving the gift of life from a stranger with two donated lungs and a dramatic double transplant.
He also survived a crash involving his car and a wagon in Widnes in May last year that knocked him out.
The ECHO understands he recently contracted a chest infection, leading to increased dependence on an oxygen machine, before being hospitalised and finally succumbing to the scarring on his lungs from his condition.
Originally from Cannock in the West Midlands, he made Widnes his adopted home but had made friends around the world.
Among those was Cheshire journalist Dave Holmes, with whom Mark completed his journalism training.
Dave said Mark loved to travel and lived around the globe, and wrote online he “drank with the cast of Neighbours and travelled with an Imbruglia”, referring to actor and singer Natalie's sister, only for him to meet Natalie too at a later date.
In a tribute to his friend shared with the ECHO, Dave said: “Our dear friend Mark Allen passed away peacefully in hospital on Wednesday with his mum Maureen Allen and girlfriend Ela at his side.
“Despite being born with cystic fibrosis, Mark was determined to squeeze the most out of life and defied the odds in making it to 50 last October.
“A life lived to the full by someone able to remain positive and strong despite innumerable setbacks to his health.
“Chumbawamba’s hit Tubthumping - 'I get knocked down but I get up again' - could have been his anthem.
“A kind gentleman, an inspiration and someone who brought his unique and quirky sense of fun to every occasion.
“He had friends around the world.
“To many of us, Mark was our hero but he was always so understated about his extraordinary courage and achievements.
“His passing leaves a big hole.
“Funeral arrangements to be announced in due course.
“Please share this post.
“Mark’s mum wants to let everyone know about the passing of her much loved son.”
