Alex Connerty: Tragedy as disability activist whose 'kindred spirit' warmed the nation dies
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A teenager hailed as an "inspiration" for his tireless activism around disability has died. Relatives of Alex Connerty, who had the rare condition called Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism Type II (MPD), are heartbroken after the young man's passing on Wednesday.
A charity Alex helped create has carried out tireless research into MPD and its causes. Alex's subsequent activism captured the hearts of the nation. MPD, characterised in 1982, is associated with brain and skeletal abnormalities. Although research into it continues, MPD is thought to be extremely rare with statistics in the US suggesting it affects just one in three million people.
Alex shone a light on it and the challenges it presents, including curious stares from strangers. Yet, speaking when Alex was just a toddler, his mum Sue described her son as "a sociable child with a great personality" - traits that he continued to boast for the rest of his short life.
Speaking after Alex died, his dad John, of Maghull, Merseyside, said: "Sue and I are heartbroken beyond belief! Yesterday Alex, our handsome inspirational son unexpectedly and sadly passed away. Alex mum, dad, your brother Michael, sister Jess, nan Margaret and Grandad Alec and all your other family members and fried are at a loss and already we all miss you so so much.
"Since you were born you fought every day to live, you loved life and was starting to enjoy life to the fullest. We knew from early on that your life expectancy would be limited but you pushed your life expectancy to the extreme limits to the point we thought you would be with us forever!".
