A 'larger than life' man married his soulmate just days before he tragically died following two-and-a half year hospital stay.
Zachary McNally, known affectionately as Zac, passed away on April 15 surrounded by his family at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
He was just 28 years old.
Just two days before his death, he tied the knot with fiancée, Amy, after he held up a proposal sign from his hospital window, Manchester Evening News reports.
Step-mum Karen Stringer paid heartfelt tribute to Zac, saying: “He was just a larger than life character that everyone is going to miss. He had hundreds of friends we are expecting to come to the funeral.”
Zac — who was known as Zac Mac in Manchester United-supporting circles — was only 25 when he was diagnosed with leukaemia in autumn 2019. He was admitted to hospital shortly before Christmas that year.
Initially, he had a steady stream of visitors, but the pandemic meant those trips had to stop, although dad Ian, mum Lynne, and Amy were able to visit after a while.
Despite the difficult circumstances, doctors successfully carried out a stem cell transplant to ‘cure’ him of the disease, Karen added.
She continued: “He was actually cured of leukaemia because he had a stem cell transplant. That cured him of the blood cancer.
"Because he was so ill he was induced into a coma. He could not fight infections… but we’re not sure what the doctors will say his cause of death was.
“He passed away on Good Friday. All his close family were there for the final week. We all had a sleepover on the last night. We all took comfort and solace out of that.
“On Wednesday that week, he perked up and he was allowed friends to see him. They came out in tears but they said he had a laugh even then.”
Such was Zac’s character and personality, he even managed to propose to his girlfriend Amy when the pair could not meet. Karen added: “He proposed in hospital when we were down in the car park. He put up a plaque to ask her to marry him.
“In that final week, the hospital priest blessed the wedding. He was married by the church, but not in law, two days before he died.”
As well as familial support, Zac had messages of encouragement from sports stars. Among those were his favourite Manchester United player Wes Brown, and boxers Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton.
Summing Zac up, Karen said: “He was just a big, handsome, loveable lad.” His funeral takes place on Thursday, May 5, at 10:30am at the Chapel Rest on Crow Lane in Ramsbottom.
From there, there will be a procession to St Joesph’s Church for his service at 11:45am. After the service, anyone who would like to follow to Ramsbottom Cemetery on Cemetery Road for a short committal service is welcome. A wake is being held in the Buchanan Club from 12.30pm.
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