Brave Joanne Duckworth, who underwent a liver transplant in January, has died aged 39. Doctors at St James' Hosp-ital, Leeds, on Monday swit-ched off the ventilator which had been keeping Joanne alive.

Joanne, a secretary before her illness became severe, had been in hospital since the transplant. Her liver went into chronic rejection last week.

Her widower Alan, 45, says: "One positive thing came out of it - Joanne died very peacefully within minutes of the machine being switched off.

"She was so brave. She really fought hard. She was a great character - a lovely person. Joanne was my much-loved companion for 22 years."

Joanne and Alan, a heavy goods vehicle driver, were married ten years and lived Park-wood Street, Keighley.

A former pupil of Holy Family School, Keighley, she was told in January the only alternative was a liver transplant. But she continued to be poorly after the operation and there were a number of complications, including eventually the liver going into rejection.

Alan praises Joanne's mother and father, Violet and Albert Lynch, of Keighley. "They were very supportive," he says.

In January 1993 Joanne demonstrated her courage and public spirit when she helped arrest one of two youths after they smashed a window in a Keighley store. West Yorkshire Police awarded her a Certifi-cate of Merit.

Joanne's funeral will take place at Keighley parish Chur-ch on Monday followed by cremation at Oakworth crematorium.

in recognition of her outstanding assistance.

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