Former Man City ball boy dies after cancer battle

A teenager who stole the hearts of his Manchester City heroes as he battled a rare form of cancer has died.

Last week Beverley Clarke Ferndandez published a heartbreaking picture of her 19-year-old son Elliott as he struggled with cancer in a bid to raise money for treatment abroad.

More than £30,000 was raised over five days. But the money was too late and in a post on the fundraising page on Sunday Beverley said:

Manchester City joined hundreds of people on social media paying their respects to Elliott.A tweet from City bosses read: “Everyone at #mcfc is saddened to learn of the passing of Elliott Fernandez. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Elliott is a lifelong Manchester City fan and spent nine years as a ball-boy at the Etihad Stadium before he fell ill.

The teenager, from Denton, was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma cancer back in February last year.

He was left fighting for life in intensive care with doctors saying he was unlikely to pull through.But he defied the odds and after learning to walk and eat again gradually battled his way back to health.

The lifelong City fan, even walked onto the pitch at the Etihad before the Blues’ game with Everton last October.But Elliott suffered a relapse over Christmas with fluid on his brain and signs of cancer found on both his liver and spine.

Specialists delivered the heartbreaking news that there was nothing they could do as he was unable to have any more Chemotherapy.His family launched the fundraising drive, for £100,000, in the hope of sending him to Stuttgart for treatment.

To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/mancity-ballboy-elliott-fernandez