The mum of a "popular Prestwich lad" who died while waiting for a kidney transplant is urging people to talk about organ donation with loved ones.

David Naylor was born with one kidney with a 30 per cent function capability and was given his first transplant aged 18.

But the former Philips High School pupil died in 2014 aged 25 while waiting for a second transplant.

Despite the first transplant failing, his family say it gave around eight years of extra life and have shared his story as part of Organ Donation Week., which runs until Sunday.

His mum, Yvonne Naylor, said: “Kidney disease is a cruel killer and destroys young and old alike.

“We need more donors.

“I would encourage people to speak to their loved ones about their wishes, so when the time comes the conversation has already been had.”

Despite David struggling with his health, he lived life to the full, and as a teenager he participated in school activities and became a champion in the field of archery after winning the National Field of Archery Society's at under 16s level.

He went on to study a vocational engineering course at Bury College but he became ill and was unable to finish his course.

Bury Times: Eamonn O'Brien, Yvonne Naylor, Jo Lancaster and Sean Thorpe

As part of the awareness week, transplant survivor Cllr Sean Thorpe, council leader Eamonn O’Brien, and Cllr Jo Lancaster, who was David’s cousin, met with Yvonne in Prestwich.

Cllr Lancaster said: “He was put on the paediatric transplant list of 180 and was on peritoneal dialysis three times a day at home and haemodialysis at the hospital three days a week.

“He waited two and a half years but didn’t have a donor, becoming extremely poorly, very weak and then unable to walk far without support.

“He had to be fed via a feeding tube as he wasn’t eating, and developed pancreatitis and neuropathy in his legs.”

It was at this point that his cousin Craig discovered he was a match and donated one of his kidneys to David when he was aged 18.

David’s life was transformed and the following September he went to university and graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a degree in robotics and electronics.

Bury Times: David Naylor graduating university

The transplant transformed David's life but after six and a half years, the kidney failed.

David was waiting for a second donor before he died in August 2014.

Ahead of Organ Donation Week, Cllr Sean Thorpe contacted councillors from all parties to raise awareness.

He was diagnosed with end-stage liver disease in 2015 due to hemochromatosis, an inherited condition where iron levels in the body slowly build up over many years.

After a successful transplant, he has continued to thank the unknown stranger who saved his life and act as an advocate for the importance of organ donation.

Bury Times: Sean Thorpe with his wife before the transplant surgery

He said: “All adults in England are, in most cases, considered to be potential organ donors unless they choose to opt-out.

“A family will still be asked however if they have any information which might indicate if an individual would like to donate at the end of their life.

“That is why it is essential to tell those closest to you whether you want to be an organ donor.”

In an email to Bury councillors, he added: “There are currently 7,000 who are seriously ill and in need of an organ transplant to transform or save their life.

“Sadly, several will die while waiting however, more than 50,000 people are alive today in the UK because someone said 'yes' to organ donation.

“As many of you will know, I am one of those people."