HEARTBROKEN Adam Riaz has died just six weeks after saying goodbye to five members of his family with a moving tribute at their graveside.

The 17-year-old, who touched the hearts of all of Accrington, lost his 18-month battle with leukaemia on Monday.

His mum Caneze and sisters Sayrah, Sophia, Alicia and Hannah perished in the house fire on Tremellen Street on 1 November.

Adam was being treated at the Christie Hospital in Manchester at the time and suddenly became the only surviving member of the family.

He bravely read out a statement to the waiting media immediately after the funeral service for his mum and sisters and asked that the extended family be given time to grieve in peace.

He said: "We have just said farewell to my beautiful, talented mother and sisters and I am sure everyone will understand just how hard that has been for us and the family. They are at peace now."

But he never visited his dad, who is believed to have started the fire, in hospital where he survived for two days after being plucked from the house.

Some friends said they were glad the loving family had now been reunited and speculated that Adam lost his desire to live after the tragedy.

Family friend Shameem Kareem, who no longer lives in Accrington, told the Observer: "Adam was a strong person. Everyone took the deaths really badly but Adam was great; he was being brave.

"Deep down, though, his heart was broken. I think his mum Caneze wanted Adam back for Christmas. He's now at peace and no longer sitting in hospital suffering."

A spokeswoman for the Christie Hospital said that the last couple of months had been extremely difficult for Adam and everyone close to him.

She said: "Adam was a very special and talented young man and will be sadly missed by all our staff who worked with him."

Neighbours on Tremellen Street were devastated by the news of Adam's death and paid tribute to the teenager's loving and kind personality.

Derek Watson, 75, a close friend of Adam's uncle Barry Khanan, said: "Adam was a great kid. He was a quiet lad and very nicely spoken.

"I was impressed with his bravery and what he's had to put up with. You could see he was a poorly boy at the funeral.

"I think he had a full belief that he was going to be all right, just as we thought. Before all this he was carrying on with his life. We'd see him with his skateboard and guitar."

Neighbour Mrs Azra Mansha, 34, said: "He was a really good, loving kid, a really nice boy. Adam was really good with the kids on the street. He would play with them and he loved skateboarding. He was always going up and down the street. I can still see him.

"I saw him three days after his mum's funeral and he was just sitting there outside the house. I didn't want to upset him. I didn't know what to say to him.

"He put flowers down saying Mum. My tears came and I just walked away."

Adam's grandmother June Khanan had attended a prayer ceremony the day before Adam died, exactly 40 days after the deaths of her daughter and grandchildren.

Following Islamic tradition the Koran was read and prayers were said.

Adam's former school teachers have also paid tribute to the teenager, describing him as a friendly and caring young man with many friends.

John Boden, headteacher of Hyndburn Park Primary School, said: "Adam was with us all the way through his primary school life and he was a very caring and capable boy.

"He did very well academically but he also contributed much to the life of the school and he was always very well-thought of, as was his entire family.

"He was a very happy person and continued his involvement with the school after he left as he continued to help his sisters while they were here."

Andrew Bateman, headteacher of Moorhead Sports College, Accrington, said that Adam was a very hard-working young man who loved music.

He added: "While he was here he was a member of a band and he spent all the time he could practising with his fellow band-mates. They also took part in a number of concerts at the school.

"He had a large circle of friends and many of them were very close to him, keeping in close contact for the last 18 months during his illness."

Adam's last appearance in public was when he bravely attended a memorial service at Moorhead three weeks after the fire.

  • AT his funeral yesterday (Thurs) 200 mourners attended a solemn and traditional service in the Grimshaw Street mosque.

Outside his grandmother June Khanan and his uncle Barry, Caneze's brother, were comforted by friends of the family.

Inside the mosque prayers were led in Arabic. The 15-minute service was quiet and dignified.

Afterwards the coffin was carried out of the mosque to be taken to Accrington Cemetery where Adam was buried alongside his mother Caneze and four sisters who died in the horrific fire at their Tremellen Street home just six weeks ago.

After the service Detective Superintendent Mick Gradwell, who led the investigation into the blaze, paid tribute to Adam.

He offered Adam's grandmother and other family members his sincere condolences.

He said Adam had been courteous and extremely helpful when police had interviewed him in the Christie Hospital while investigating the blaze.

He described Adam as a brave teenager, adding: "He was a very courageous young man in the way he dealt with the death of his family and with his own illness."