A PIONEERING charity worker and Greenock 'miracle man' who overcame a series of health battles has died at the age of 69.

Former Tele employee Ewen Maclean, who lived down in Largs with his second wife Sandra, was a tireless campaigner as he heroically fought kidney disease, giving hope to many others around the UK.

Ewen was born and bred in Greenock and worked as a compositor at the Telegraph, where he was highly respected by all his colleagues.

He was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease aged only 33, and underwent a transplant which lasted for 20 years, before having a second life-saving transplant in 2016.

After the death of his first wife, Marion, Ewen re-married Sandra, who he had met while both were part of the successful campaign to save the Caladh House care home in Greenock from closure.

Ewen's brother Colin was a resident at the home, while Sandra was a health and safety officer who carried out risk assessments at the premises.

As a result of his own health battles Ewen became involved in the work of a number of kidney charities.

He worked for Kidney Care UK for around 12 years, eventually becoming its lead advocacy officer for Scotland and later an ambassador for the charity.

He was a high profile member of the Scottish Renal Association and was a hard-working fundraiser for a hospice in Clydebank.

Sandra said: "He absolutely loved his job and wanted to do anything he could to help.

"He represented kidney patients if they had difficulties with dialysis and was instrumental in improving dialysis for communities such as in Campbeltown.

"Patients had to spend six hours travelling to the hospital at the Vale of Leven for dialysis.

"He fought hard to get a dialysis unit for the people in Campbeltown and they were so pleased with his campaigning work that he was invited to open the facility."

Ewen was secretary of the Scottish Kidney Federation and also served on Largs Community Council.

In recent years he faced a battle with scalp cancer, which returned three times.

He remained in good spirits until the end, and had been due to begin radiotherapy soon.

However, he began to experience stomach pains on Sunday evening and asked for an ambulance.

Ewen died peacefully at Inverclyde Royal Hospital the following day.

He is survived by his brother Colin, daughter Carolyn and grandchildren Dylan, Ben and Amy, and was pre-deceased by son Barry, who sadly passed away four years ago.

He was also greatly loved by Sandra's grand-daughter Olivia.

Sandra said: "Ewen was a true beacon of hope, and inspired people all over the country.

"On a number of occasions in the past, we have been told to expect the worst, and on each occasion he bounced back, so much so that one headline in the Telegraph described him as a 'miracle man'."

A spokesperson for Kidney Care UK said: "Ewen was so well known within the community and particularly in Scotland.

"He was one of the founding members of the Patient Support and Advocacy Service,

"He was both incredibly wise and compassionate and would always go the extra mile to support people with kidney disease and their families in Scotland.

"He will be missed by all of us at the charity and our thoughts are with his family and friends, along with anyone he supported through his work."