COURAGEOUS teenager Daniel Berry has lost his 18-month battle with leukaemia, despite six courses of treatment, two trips to America and a bone marrow transplant.

Daniel's parents, Elaine and Gary, and his older brother Mark are distraught after the 18-year-old died in the Royal Bolton Hospital on Friday, following an unsuccessful last-ditch trip to America.

Neil Hughes, Daniel's uncle, said: "The family are very cut up. Daniel has been a fighter throughout and kept proving everybody wrong. He even bounced back enough to go quad biking recently.

"I went to see him on Thursday. Doctors were considering trying another course of treatment, but when they took his blood count they realised there was nothing more they could offer, and because of the advanced stage of his condition all they could do was control the pain."

Daniel, of Crosby Grove, Atherton, was diagnosed with the blood disease in August 2001, just after leaving Hesketh Fletcher High School with seven GCSEs.

When initial sessions of chemotherapy failed and British doctors said there was nothing more they could do, his family launched the Daniel Berry Fund -- an appeal to raise money to send him to America for treatment not available in this country.

Daniel defied doctors at Salford's Hope Hospital and Christmas 2001 saw a breakthrough, with his condition in remission. However, the good news was shortlived and, when the cancer returned last February, the Berrys made a life-saving trip to the M D Anderson Clinic in Texas.

During tests at the clinic, Daniel's condition was re-diagnosed and he flew home to begin new treatment at Hope Hospital. This was successful and Daniel was able to undergo a bone marrow transplant in May.

His condition continued to improve and, in September, Mr and Mrs Berry threw a party to celebrate him passing the crucial 100-day milestone after the transplant operation.

But just after Daniel's 18th birthday the cancer returned and, as he was too ill to travel, the decision was made to import specialist drugs from America as a last resort. Their failure and an unsuccessful last-ditch trip to the Texas clinic earlier this month left the family with no more options.

On their return, Daniel's condition deteriorated rapidly and he was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital on Wednesday, with plans to move him to a hospice on Friday, but he died in the early hours.

Daniel's funeral will be on Monday at Chow Bent Unitarian Chapel at 2.30pm, followed by commital at Howe Bridge Crematorium at 3.30pm. Any inquiries to Abbey Funerals, 01942-886776. His family have requested family flowers only. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Daniel Berry Fund, PO Box 33, Manchester, M46 9YX.