A TERMINALLY ill man had his longed-for wish to see his pregnant sister's baby fulfilled only days before he died.

Johnathan Baker, who had suffered from a brain tumour since February 2000, died on Sunday evening, on the day his sister, Dawn, 28, was expected to give birth.

She wanted her brother to see his nephew so desperately that labour was induced last Thursday and she gave birth to a healthy 10lb 9oz boy, Brook Johnathan Richardson.

Johnathan's mother, Eileen, believed her son held on to see his sister's child.

She said: "I am convinced he wanted to live to see the baby, and he achieved it.

"Dawn was very concerned that he should see the baby.

"He held Brook, although we are not sure whether he was able to see him."

Johnathan, of Stockton, was diagnosed with the disease at Stockton Sixth Form College.

Despite radiotherapy, chemo-therapy and two operations, Johnathan, a Liverpool Football Club fan, managed to raise more than £6,000 for charity.

He received an achievement award from the Youth Cancer Trust in September 2001 after he raised £2,000 for the trust. He also raised £4,300 for Butterwick Hospice.

Mrs Richardson said: "We have lots of happy memories. Johnny is out of his suffering now.

"It was really hard for him and he was very frightened in the beginning.

"It affected him in lots of ways, including his thought-patterns, which tormented him.

"But he battled on. He used to say he was like Tigger, because he always bounced back.

"There were times when he thought, 'what are you doing, God' but he was never angry with him and he has gone to him now."

His father, Dennis, said: "Doctors said Johnny was almost unique because he fought against his illness for such a long time."

Donations are still coming in to Skinningrove coastguard crew member Paul Waugh, who completed a coast-to-coast fundraising cycle ride to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice,

He took up the challenge after he met Johnathan's family last year when he rescued their dog, Buddy.

The money raised will go towards Johnathan's Bed Fund, set up to raise money for a large bed that the Butterwick Hospice had to rent for use by Johnathan after he put weight on because of his illness.

His funeral will be held at 11.30am on Thursday at Elim Pentecostal Church, in Stockton.