Town comes to standstill for tragic Zac, 28, who died two days after getting married

Ramsbottom came to a standstill yesterday to honour a ‘loveable lad’ who died at just 28-years-old — two days after he married his sweetheart.

Zac McNally died on Good Friday last month having suffered from leukaemia and being confined to hospital for two-and-a-half years. Ultimately, Zac was cured of his cancer by a stem cell transplant, step-mum Karen Stringer said, but it left his immune system very weak.

Tragically, he was unable to fight an infection and he died just days after marrying his fiancée, Amy. The 28-year-old had proposed to her by holding up a sign from his hospital window.

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Last week, the Ramsbottom man got a heart-felt send off from his hometown. Known as ‘Zac Mac’ among Manchester United faithful, Ramsbottom became a ‘sea of red and white’, Ms Stringer said.

She continued: “Music was played and sang too, as his friends and family walked to the church. Crowds [had to be] left outside, as it became standing room only, and then the cemetery. His mates made his wake a day to remember, with a sax player and balloon release, and they carried on singing his chosen songs throughout the evening.

“His family took great comfort from the love shown by so many. [There were] emotional and funny tributes paid to him by his cousin and friend, they had the church in laughter and tears. The applause was deafening.”

Karen added ‘Stand By Me’ was played at Zac’s graveside. Last month, she told the Manchester Evening News how the remarkable 28-year-old proposed to his girlfriend.

She said: “He proposed in hospital when we were down in the car park. He put up a plaque to ask her to marry him. In that final week, the hospital