A YOUNG man who medical experts believed would be dead before his 10th birthday has died - just a day before turning 22.

Jason Evans, of Corner Farm Road, Staplehurst, who was born with a hole in his heart, was celebrating his birthday with friends at the ikon nightclub in Maidstone when he collapsed. He was taken to Maidstone Hospital but despite a battle by doctors to save his life, he died early on Saturday before his family had time to reach his bedside.

His parents, Carol, 51, and Michael, 50, described their son as their "shining star" who died doing what he enjoyed most. Mr Evans, a lecturer at Hadlow College, said: "If we could have chosen any way for Jason to die it would have been like this. He was out enjoying himself with his friends and that is what is important to us. He lived all his life in the short time that he had."

According to his parents, Mr Evans would not have made it to adulthood had he not had a life-saving operating at 15. He had also undergone serious surgery six years ago to correct the transposition of his two main arteries. He still had to have annual check-ups but was not in pain or on medication.

After leaving Angley School, Cranbrook, Mr Evans was determined to pursue a career in IT. He trained in Maidstone and went on to work for Computing Science, Rochester.

"He always said that life was for the living", said Mrs Evans. "He said that you could go out tomorrow and walk in front of a bus so you had to live for now."

Mr Evans's funeral will be held at St Michael and All Angels Church, Church Green, Marden, on Wednesday (February 6) at 1.30pm. All his friends are welcome.