A man who was not expected to live more than a year when he was born with a congenital heart defect has died at the age of 30.

Craig Rigby battled several episodes in hospital and suffered a number of heart attacks, but lived an amazingly fulfilled life, said his foster mum, Barbara Beardmore.

His death from pneumonia at the end of a cruise to the Canaries came as a huge shock, she said.

Craig, a wheelchair user, was chairman of People First Keighley and Craven, a Keighley-based organisation for people with learning disabilities.

For the last 18 months he had lived in supported accommodation at John Gassney House, in Toller Lane, Bradford.

Mrs Beardmore, of Heath Cres-cent, Eldwick, Bingley, said: “He packed so much into his life – he had enjoyed two cruises this year.

“He had been living in his own flat for the past 18 months and loved it.

“He became ill on the last day of the cruise on Wednesday lunchtime last week and was taken to Southampton hospital on the Thursday and died on Sunday at 2.20pm.

“He was a lovely person. My children – David, Neil and Carole – treated him as their brother.”

Hanna Bennett, People First Keighley and Craven co-ordinator, said Craig’s friends in the group were very upset. She said: “We’ll miss him so much.”

“Craig lived life to the full. He was a lovely young man, very thoughtful and polite and with a sense of humour. He was a bit of a wind-up merchant.

“He was keen on politics and especially liked to watch Question Time. He would always discuss it the next morning.”

Craig was involved with Bradford Community Broadcasting’s Radio 119 project and attended Craven College, where he studied art and design.

His funeral will take place at Nab Wood on Tuesday, December 7, with a thanksgiving service at Bingley Methodist Church at 2pm.

Donations in Craig’s memory can be made to People First Keighley and Craven.

e-mail:clive.white@telegraphandargus.co.uk