A DEVOTED Hampshire ambulance technician who inspired colleagues by beating leukaemia has died at the age of 37.

Brave Nick Atkinson won two battles against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia but died in Southampton General Hospital last week after contracting a chest infection.

Based at Totton Ambulance Station, Nick, a keen motorcyclist, had qualified as a technician but dreamt of becoming a rapid response paramedic on a bike.

Today, Hampshire Ambulance Service colleagues paid tribute to a man they said was a credit to the service.

Deb Ingram, clinical team manager based at Totton, said: "Nick was such a fighter. He was so proud to work for Hampshire Ambulance Service and we were proud to have him."

Colleague Mark Weatherhead added: "Nick was a very popular guy; the sort of person who couldn't do enough for you. The ambulance service was his life.

"Every time he was fit enough to get out of bed he would turn up at work. He was an inspiration to us all."

Nick, who lived in Bitterne with wife, Jo, pictured with him above, daughter Jamie-Ann, 14, and stepson Drew, 22, had been diagnosed with leukaemia in 1997. Then aged 30 and working as a taxi driver, he underwent chemotherapy at Royal South Hants Hospital

In December 1997, Jo shaved her hair off to raise more than £2,500 for the Hamilton Fairley ward, where Nick was being treated.

That same month, Nick's brother Peter, then 17, bravely donated bone marrow to help his battle against cancer. Nick joined Hampshire Ambulance Service in May 2000 and worked in Eastleigh and Portsmouth before transferring to Totton.

A funeral service was due to take place at Southampton Crematorium this morning, with nearly all 30 staff from Totton Ambulance Station in attendance.