A Dundee businessman has paid tribute to his son, who died while on holiday in Estonia.
James Philp, whose wife Jennifer is expecting a child, passed away while on holiday with friends in Tallinn.
His father, Ian Philp, managing director of Gillies home furnishings, paid tribute to his son who had survived alife-threatening illness in 2007.
Mr Philp told The Courier: “He was like the old rubber ball that kept bouncing back.
“James has always been someone who, if he wants something, he does everything to get it.
“He was famous for his smile. Even when he was gravely ill he was smiling. He was always smiling. He didn’t dwell on his illness.
“He became unwell in January 2007. It emerged that he had viral hepatitis and he had to have a liver transplant on February 14 that year.
“We have often called that James’ second birthday.”
He added: “We would like to pay tribute to theScottish Transplant Unit, as well as the nurses at Ninewells.Without their support and help James would not have had the years that he had.”
James’ wife and mother, Wendy, flewto Tallinn after the 26-year-old fell ill onSunday. However, his conditiondeteriorated and he passed away.
Mr Philp said James never let his illness affect his life.
He added: “He went to DundeeHigh where his passion for playing rugby developed. It was the driving force in his life.
“He wasn’t a strong player and herealised he would have to change position to play for the team.So he became a hooker. I always thought he stayed on for sixth year because of his love for rugby.”
James had studied at Achincruive inAyrshire, but had to return home after he fell ill.
“It was difficult for him to go back tocollege (after his transplant),” Mr Philp said. “He needed a lot of support and so he came back to stay with us.
“Shackleton Technologies took him on then. He had a real passion for computers.He did a great job there and reallyflourished with them. We are very grateful for them taking him on as well.
“Three years ago he came into thefamily business and was responsible for developing our IT.”
Mr Philp said his son was a volunteer with the RNLI, and that it was with “great pride” he walked alongside James in the lifeboat remembrance service at the Caird Hall this year.
Mr Philp added: “He was bouncing round my office before he was leaving for Tallinn and asked me to do some DIY jobs so he could get a carpet fitted in his house.
“He never let his life after the transplant be directed by it. He lived his life to the full. He never let anything get in his way.”’He is still my best man’Matthew Fairlie, whose stag weekend in Tallinn had been planned and organised by his best man, James who everyone knew as “Snow” said everyone was “in shock” after his sudden death.
He said everything seemed normal on the Saturday night, and although James had begun to feel poorly on Sunday, it appeared tiredness and possible dehydration from the previous day’s flight and activities were to blame for him feeling “exhausted”.
However, his condition slowly worsened, and by Monday morning, Matthew said, it was decided by their doctor friend, David, that he should be taken to hospital.
Matthew said: “We flew in on Saturday morning and he had designed a weekend that he would love because he knew I would love it too. It was perfect.
“We went for a meal on Saturday night then a few drinks, it was mostly just talking and reminiscing with the guys it was quite tame really for a stag do.
“On the Sunday we got up, we were more tired than anything, but we went paint-balling and had a great time. James said he didn’t feel like eating dinner, he said he was exhausted and didn’t want to go out.”
Matthew said the following morning he was still unable to eat or drink, and it was decided to get an ambulance and get him to hospital, after which he was taken away by doctors and they didn’t see him again.
“We didn’t get much information after that. We had been in touch with his mum, Wendy, and his wife, Jennifer, who were flying out that night so reluctantly we flew home,” Matthew said.
The first he knew the true seriousness of the situation was when he was telephoned by the family on Tuesday morning to tell him James had passed away.
Still stunned and shocked by his death, Matthew paid tribute to “Snow” as everyone called him, the “best friend and great guy” who he said means everything to him.
He said: “We have been friends since first year at the High School. He was my best friend and I have no intention to replace him at the wedding in February.
“He is still my best man.”