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After a huge community effort to raise more than £200,000 for treatment, Ethan Hamer’s family have sadly announced their son has passed away.

During the summer of last year, Ethan, 15, was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of throat cancer and was told he couldn’t be treated in the UK.

Ethan was described as incredibly energetic and full of life by his mum, Debbie, who gave the tragic news via Facebook last night in a post which has attracted thousands of tributes.

Ethan, from Caerphilly, was treated at Noah’s Ark Hospital Cardiff. The hospital said it had “never seen this type of cancer in a child”.

Only weeks before his diagnosis, Ethan had just won the Caerphilly 2K, alongside playing regular football for his club, Cwrt Rawlin, who paid tributes to Ethan on Twitter last night. 

His mother said he experienced chest pains, before quickly becoming bedridden shortly after diagnosis.

Doctors put Ethan on chemotherapy by August, but said the type of treatment needed would have to be privately done in Germany.

After successfully raising the £200,000 needed for the treatment in Germany, Ethan travelled there in November completing five weeks of immunotherapy treatment.

Unfortunately, Ethan’s condition deteriorated according to his mum.

Caerphilly Senedd member Hefin David, who met with community fundraisers last year, paid tribute to Ethan.

He said: “I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. I’ve heard a lot about Ethan through people who knew him and it was clear that he was loved and valued by lots of people across the borough.

“The passion I saw from those fundraising for Ethan’s treatment is a testament to what a special boy he was. I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends at this very difficult time.”

This article has been updated to state that Ethan completed five weeks of treatment in Germany in November, and not January as we previously reported. Caerphilly Observer would like to apologise for any distress this may have caused the family.