TRIBUTES have been paid to an 18-year-old Bolton Wanderers fan who died suddenly at his home.

Stephen Addison, who had type 1 diabetes, died on December 6 at his home in Seddon Street, Little Lever.

The cause of his death is not yet known and an inquest has been opened.

The teenager, who went to Kearsley West Primary School and later attended George Tomlinson School, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 15 but had been in and out of hospital from the age of 11.

His father, Steve Addison, aged 57, said: “Stephen was my son but he was also my best mate, we did everything together and went everywhere together.”

Stephen, who liked to be known as Ste, was a keen Whites fan and also followed Arsenal. His two biggest loves were football and his car.

His best friend, Faheem Barber, who is 18 and also has type 1 diabetes, said the pair helped each other with managing their condition.

He said: “We used to talk to each other about our different regimes and help each other out.”

Faheem’s mother, Sully, added: “It was a real bonding factor for the boys. It is very hard for others to understand but they looked out for each other.

“Stephen was a lovely, polite lad and when we met him we instantly liked him. He would chat and play computer games with my son and then come and have a grown-up conversation with us.”


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Mr Addison, who is separated from Stephen’s mum, said his son was mis-diagnosed several times before doctors realised it was diabetes.

He added: “They said that when he was diagnosed, he technically should have been in a diabetic coma because his blood sugar levels were so high.”

Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas does not produce any insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels.

This meant a strict insulin regime for Stephen.

Mr Addison said: “When your child has diabetes, you don’t get a peaceful night’s sleep. Many a time I would get up in the night and prick his finger to check his blood sugar levels.”

However, Mr Addison said his son was very mature when it came to managing his illness.

He said: “He had diaries. He had to keep records of blood monitoring and what he had eaten at what time.

“He did everything that he was supposed to. Stephen may have looked young, but for a young man he had a head on his shoulders of a 30-year-old.”

Mr Addison said he will remember his son as a good mannered, loving and generous young man.

He said: “Whenever I came home from work there was a brew on the table and a bath running. That was what he was like. He always put others first and he will be greatly missed.”

The inquest into Stephen’s death will be held in March at Bolton Coroners Court.

His father has asked for any donations to be made to Diabetes UK. For information go to diabetes.org.uk/donate.