A TEENAGER who was battling a rare form of cancer has died, just days after a crowdfunding campaign for treatment was set up.

Connah Haslam, aged 19, had been battling the rare Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer for five years.

His family began a JustGiving page on Friday but told supporters of the campaign this morning their son had died.

The emotional post to contributors, from his mum Kelly Haslam, said: "Our hearts are broken into a million pieces as I write to tell you that Connah could fight no longer and he passed away early this morning.

"The infections became too much for him to fight all in one go and his body couldn't cope. We are completely heartbroken and cannot begin to imagine him not being there - it has always been us four!

"He fought to the very end and me and his dad held him tight as he took his last breath. It was peaceful at the end and we are spending time with him before we have him transported home."

Connah had attended Castlebrook High School and in 2014, a teacher at the school, Peter Friend, took part in a 138-mile trek in the Brecon Beacons to raise money for cancer charities.

Bury Times:

Castlebrook High School teacher Peter Friend with Connah Haslam in June 2014

His former headteacher, Sue Armstrong, the principal at Castlebrook said the school was 'devastated' by the news. 

Mrs Armstrong said: "It's awful news. We're all devastated, he was a smashing young man. 

"Throughout his battles he never stopped smiling and never complained, he was an inspiration to all the staff, pupils and parents. 

"We'd like to offer our heartfelt sympathies to his family. He was a wonderful young man."

In 2014, Connah had been given the all clear after having a month of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and physiotherapy the year before and having an operation to remove a growth.

On the JustGiving page his mother described how Connah was first diagnosed in 2012 aged 14 and underwent six cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy twice a day for a month before undergoing a massive operation to replace his right femur and hip ball joint with titanium.

He had to learn to walk again after the operation and undergo another eight cycles of chemotherapy.

Before his death, supporters had raised £161,453 of the £300,000 total and on Saturday the family set off to Germany for Connah's treatment.

When he arrived, the family were told he also had an infection and during his fight with the infection Connah lost consciousness yesterday.

Writing on JustGiving, Mrs Haslam told supporters Connah was a dedicated Manchester United fan and a big Game of Thrones fan, she said he stayed up until 2am to watch it.

She added: "He has also been planning to work for Bethesda since he was eight-years-old."

She said the 19-year-old was a keen Xbox gamer playing a variety of games and had begun looking at training to work for gaming company Bethesda and had been studying IT at Bury College.