A POPULAR Lodge Park man who lived life to the full despite being paralysed from the neck down died suddenly on Friday aged 23.

Paul Cook's funeral will take place on Tuesday, December 21, and his family want as many of his friends as possible to attend.

The former Leys High School pupil was paralysed after a road accident in 1994 and in 1996, the Redditch Advertiser backed a campaign to buy an adapted minibus to bring him home from hospital.

Paul eventually returned home in 1997 after spending three years in a spinal injuries unit in Southport.

His dad, Alan Cook, said the family wanted to thank everyone in Redditch for their support in raising about £15,000 for the customised vehicle.

Mum Chris said: "We want to thank people who gave him the ability to get about socially. If it wasn't for their generosity, we would never have been able to raise so much money."

Since returning home from hospital in 1997, Paul had been looked after by a dedicated team of carers who Mr Cook said "treated him like their own".

He added: "We want people to know Paul lived life to the full. We don't want people to look at him and think what a shame as it was never the case. Paul never once asked why it had happened or said he didn't want to be here.

"Despite all his problems, he just got on with living life to the full."

Paul was always designing things, including a glove to enable him to use a computer.

Just last week, Paul - who loved going to gigs - went with a group of friends to see The Darkness.

Paul's favourite song, Do You Realise?? by Flaming Lips, will be played at his funeral.

After leaving the Leys, Paul went to Evesham College to study maths, physics and computer-aided design.

Recently, he had taken up studies in television, media and maths at Hereward College in Coventry and he had successfully secured a work experience placement with a TV advertising company.

His sister, Emma, said: "Paul loved editing videos and he was amazing at it. It would take him hours to do but he was just so dedicated."

Paul was also a Red Dwarf fan and had met the cast numerous times at conventions where he always scooped prizes for his fancy dress costume.

He was also a keen astronomer and in 2000 a family friend, Dr Brian Manning, discovered an asteroid and named it after Paul.

The funeral will take place at St George's Church and then Redditch Crematorium. For exact times, call Thomas Brothers on 547777.