A SPORTSMAN who has returned from the World Transplant Games with three medals, has paid tribute his colleague who died during the competition.

Adrian Woodcock had competed alongside fellow North-East transplant athlete Alan Ayre who suffered a heart attack during a badminton competition in the World Transplant Games last week.

The pair were both in the British squad and had been friends for several years.

Shocked by the tragedy, Mr Woodcock considered returning home from the games in Nancy, France, but decided to stay and compete in his memory.

Mr Woodcock, a former PE teacher who had a heart transplant about six years ago, won three medals.

Speaking from his Chester-le-Street home, Mr Woodcock, 60, said: "Apart from being a great bloke, Alan was always gunning for the team.

"He was almost more interested in what the team did, than how he was doing. We decided to carry on and had a team remembrance service."

Mr Woodcock won gold medals in the doubles tennis and singles badminton and a bronze medal in the singles tennis.

It was an important competition for Mr Woodcock, who felt he had something to prove after a defeat at a World Transplant Games in Japan two years ago.

Funeral arrangements for tragic athlete

THE funeral of a world champion athlete who died competing in the World Transplant Games will be held this week.

Family, friends and colleagues of father-of-two Alan Ayre will gather at his home village of Blackhall, County Durham, for the service on Thursday.

Mr Ayre, 44, collapsed and died as he took part in the competition, almost two weeks ago. He suffered a massive heart attack.

His widow Angela, 43, children Andrea, 22, and Anthony, 18, and parents Alan and Betty will be joined at the funeral by officials from the Great Britain transplant team.

The service is being held at St Andrew's Church, Blackhall, at 1.45pm.

Former miner and garage manager Mr Ayre had a kidney transplant 11 years ago when a renal condition was identified during a medical to join the police force.

He won more than 50 medals in world and British transplant games, including golds in badminton.

The Great Britain team's leading doctor, Neil Parrot, is expected to lead the tributes at the service.