THE family of Derek Clements, who were shocked by his untimely passing from pulmonary fibrosis earlier this year, have raised around £3,000 so far for charity and the intensive care unit that looked after him.

Described by his family as a ‘sportsman through and through’, Derek, who lived in Launceston, was a very fit man, so when he was taken to Derriford Hospital on July 13 struggling to breathe, a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis came ‘out of the blue’.

He was taken to the intensive care unit on the Sunday and put in an induced coma. Derek was 71 when he died on Wednesday, July 25.

His wife, Jean, said: “It was so out of the blue. He had never been ill. It was very difficult to get our heads around.”

Their son, Paul, explained there is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, although certain sufferers can respond to treatment.

He added: “This was a particularly aggressive one we didn’t know about.”

The only warning sign the family had that something was amiss was that Derek had suffered with a cough for a matter of weeks before being admitted to hospital. Groundsman and chairman of South Petherwin Cricket Club, he had played cricket in late June.

Jean said: “Nothing would stop him doing anything. We didn’t know about the illness. I’d heard of cystic fibrosis, I’d never heard of pulmonary fibrosis.

“Even now we speak to people, and they ask what did Derek die of?” The family have found it hard to come to terms with the fact consultants aren’t able to give them a reason why Derek developed the condition. Jean explained Derek hated smoking, and as such had never smoked, neither had he worked with asbestos.

Paul said: “The cause of death was pulmonary fibrosis. The cause of pulmonary fibrosis was unknown.” Jean added: “They call it idiopathic — that word basically means not known.”

Paul continued: “It’s very rare apparently. Because he was such a fit man, his body was sort of hiding it really.”

“I really don’t think he knew himself,” Jean added. “He wouldn’t have coped with being ill, he wasn’t that type.

“It’s such a horrible disease, I said I have got to do something. I’ve been organising bingos for donkeys years.

“We wanted to do something to help the research that goes into it — they have got to find a cure one day.”

The family were delighted with the turnout to the fundraising bingo, held at the town hall on October 23. Jean said: “It was the first time I saw the town hall that full in a long time.” £1,500 was raised on the night for Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

£1,345 was raised from donations from the funeral for Derriford ICU and pulmonary fibrosis research, with the family still receiving donations.

Derriford has purchased a mobile chair with the donations it has received.

The family has asked that anyone who would like to donate towards pulmonary fibrosis research and patient support, donate directly to Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis. This can be done via www.actionpulmonaryfibrosis.org or www.justgiving.com/APF, by emailing [email protected], or sending to Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis, C/o Executive Business Support, City Wharf, Davidson Road, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9DZ, cheques payable to Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.