FAMILY, friends and charity leaders paid tribute to a Glasgow man who survived "30 years over the odds" and inspired others fighting cystic fibrosis to stay positive.

Anders Gibson died days after getting a lung transplant, after four near misses for the surgery.

By the time the 35-year-old got the call to say a match had been found his health had deteriorated drastically.

Anders, who lived in the city's West End, was an active supporter of the Evening Times' Opt for Life campaign, which is calling for Scotland to switch to an opt-out transplant system in Scotland to help save more lives.

He also wrote a moving article about the agony of waiting for a transplant call.

His father Hervey, 65, said: "It has been shattering. We have to keep reminding ourselves that not all transplants work out. His health had really worsened over the past year.

"He was not expected to live beyond the age of five so he had 30 years over the odds."

Hervey told how his son kept fighting for survival even after it became apparent the transplant, at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, had not been successful.

He said: "The twinkle was always in his eye, even in the intensive care unit.Everything had seemed to be going to plan for a couple of days after the operation but then it became apparent that the new lungs weren't working.

"They put him on an Ecmo machine, which does the work of your heart and lungs.

"They gave him three choices. To stay on the machine, to try for another transplant or to gradually wean him off the machine.

"He went for the third option which was incredibly brave. We knew that the odds weren't good though.

"Anders was taken off the machine over the course of a few days but the lungs didn't kick in.

"He wasn't in any pain and he had all of the family there. The last thing we did with him ...we couldn't get the Scottish cup final but we watched the English one between Arsenal and Hull, which was quite exciting. He died 24 hours after that.

"His mum and I were cosseted in an airlocked treatment room but it was a wonderful opportunity to be really close with him."

Anders was cremated following a private service for close friends and family including mum Jill, 68 and brothers Kester, 44, and Stefan, 43.

On Saturday a service will be held at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church at 10.30am to allow more of his friends to pay their respects.

Hervey, from Pollok-shields, shares his son's support for a move to an opt-out transplant system.

He said: "There needs to be an opt-out system. The barriers and delays to donation with an opt-in system can be serious."

Anders was also an active campaigner for charities including the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Yvonne Hughes, of the charity's Scottish branch, said: "We were deeply upset when we heard about the loss of Anders.

"There is now a large void in the cystic fibrosis community.

"Anders was a great ambassador in both campaigning and fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and it was a privilege to know him and his uniquely cheeky ways.

"We still lose too many young lives to this cruel condition and will continue in Anders spirit until CF is beaten for good."

Anders' friend Jacqueline Didsbury, who also suffers from CF, said: "Anders could use the right amount of humour when needed, but was also gentle, under-standing and incredibly kind and generous.

"Shortly before his call I had a conversation with Anders about life in general. We spoke about the fact that when we were born, children with CF were not expected to live beyond early childhood.

"He gave some words of wisdom that will always stay with me.

"'You know that you and me are lucky, we have exceeded expectations - we shouldn't even be here. In many ways we have won'."