Josh Abbott-Littler was described as “a beautiful, wonderful young man, really intellectual”
16:23, 20 Sep 2025Updated 16:23, 20 Sep 2025
Josh sadly died on June 26 from sepsis caused by a bacterial infection
A 20-year-old man who battled cancer “with a smile on his face” tragically died just two weeks after coming down with chest pains. Josh Abbott-Littler’s family were delighted when he rang the “all clear” bell at The Christie cancer centre in May 2024 after undergoing treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. Just one year later, he was rushed back to hospital in a serious condition.
Josh, from Wigan, was initially diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system) in 2023, during his first year studying maths at Lancaster University.
His aunt Rebecca Hughes said: “He was perfectly fit and well, with no symptoms at all. Then this growth came on his neck. His mum took him to the GP and after testing he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. He was treated with chemotherapy and proton beam therapy at The Christie and he actually got the all clear before the end of the treatment.
“He rang the bell in May 2024 and we were just elated. We’d had a difficult few years, my dad hadn’t been well, and it was a real blow. So we were ecstatic. He finished his first year at university and everything was going well.
“He went for regular check-ups at The Christie and he was doing brilliantly. He spent the summer with his friend, he loved music and festivals.”
But everything went wrong in June this year, when Josh came down with flu-like symptoms. Rebecca said: “He couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. He had this pain in his chest. He was taken straight to A&E and they were treating him for pneumonia and sepsis.”
Josh was eventually diagnosed with treatment-induced acute myeloid leukaemia, a rare, aggressive form of leukaemia triggered by undergoing certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation.
He was re-admitted to The Christie, where he died on June 26 from sepsis caused by a bacterial infection.
Rebecca said: “It was absolutely devastating. We’re such a close family and Josh was the first grandchild, the first little nephew, and we absolutely cherished and adored him. It was a huge blow for us all.”
Josh with his younger brother
In memory of Josh, his family decided to raise money for Young Lives vs Cancer by taking part in a nine-hour walk from Wigan to Southport. The charity supports children with cancer and their families.
Rebecca said: “The Young Lives vs Cancer charity has been unbelievable. They’re in The Christie every day. Everything that’s needed, they’re on hand.
“After Josh’s passing, they’ve been just as present with his mum and his two little brothers, constantly checking in.
“Before this I’d never heard of Young Lives vs Cancer. It’s just a way of us trying to give back and keep Josh’s name alive. We had a goal, if we could real £1,000 we’d be over the moon. But we’ve had so much support. It’s helped us through the toughest of days. Sometimes it’s just the little things that make all the difference.”
Josh in his childhood(Image: family handout)
She said: “Everyone says it about their own, but he was a beautiful, wonderful young man, really intellectual. He went to Holy Family primary school, then St Edmund Arrowsmith. He left with straight nines. He was a really clever boy.
“Josh wasn’t big on social media. He loved his music, he went to chess club at uni. He was just a beautiful soul, a really lovely boy.
“This has given us a focus on doing something positive and kept us going these past weeks. I’m hoping we can make it a regular thing. He would’ve been 21 in January and we’re hoping to mark that with something around that time.”
The Young Lives vs Cancer fundraiser in memory of Josh can be found here.
