Tragedy has struck an Angus family with the loss of one of three sons who shared a lifetime fight against a cruel muscle-wasting disease.
James Mathieson was the youngest of the Arbroath brothers who battled the ravages of a rare strain of muscular dystrophy, but early on Sunday his life came to an end at the age of 17.
In a terrible twist of fate, James slipped away just after returning home from his sister Claire’s 18th birthday party in the Angus town.
Along with parents Norman and Yvonne, Claire had attempted to resuscitate her younger brother.
As the devastated family last night took comfort from the widespread support they are receiving in the wake of the sudden loss, they vowed to continue a campaign seeking help for Scots sufferers of the debilitating condition.
James and brothers Daniel (20) and John (19) have been wheelchair-bound and requiring constant care for many years since they were diagnosed with duchenne muscular dystrophy as youngsters.
The condition passed on through a faulty gene and, affecting only boys, is mercifully rare and affects around 250 people in Scotland.
With a life expectancy for sufferers of only around 20 years, the Mathieson family, of McGregor’s Walk, were constantly aware of the bleak outlook for their sons, but stepfather Norman (49) said last night that, despite that inevitability, James’s death had come as a great shock.
“James was in hospital this month and he hadn’t been so well, but he got discharged on Friday and was much better,” he said.
“The party finished earlier than we planned and we got him home but we were almost at the house when he took unwell.
“I got him to his bed and we phoned 999.
“We were trying to get a mask on him and resuscitate him we did everything we could.”
The family’s memory, he said, will be of a young man who dealt with the disease head-on, inspired and encouraged by his elder brothers.
“He wouldn’t let anything stand in his way if he saw his brothers doing it then he would be doing it,” Norman added.
The three boys were all studying computing and animation at Angus College in Arbroath, a course which Mr Mathieson said gave them a great challenge and a huge amount of satisfaction.
“They loved it. They had a lot of friends and James was doing well.”
James started school at Ladyloan in Arbroath and, even after being confined to a wheelchair from primary four, was a young lad intent on having fun with friends and enjoying as many activities as possible, his stepfather said.
“There was a special sports day at Camperdown every year which he really enjoyed and he had medals for swimming which he did with the school.
“He was very enthusiastic about everything he did.
“The phone has not stopped all day.
“People have been a great support and we are very grateful for that.
“We are just trying to keep Daniel and John occupied but Claire has taken it very badly she was with James the two weeks he was in hospital.”
Last year the Mathieson family took their campaign for greater awareness of the condition to the Scottish Parliament, where they pressed the case for a medical centre of excellence to deal with the condition.
There are two such venues south of the border and Scottish campaigners believe the lack of such provision here could be shortening the lives of sufferers.
“We need this sort of thing and we will continue to campaign for it as a legacy to James,” Norman added.
“When you look at the boys’ deterioration over the years it is very difficult for us as a family, but they don’t let it get to them and they are the happiest guys in the world who enjoy the little things the most.”