A former regional daily sports writer has died aged 52 following complications from a kidney transplant operation.

Nigel Whitefield worked for the Coventry Evening Telegraph and Scotland on Sunday as well as the now-defunct national daily Today, for which he covered the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.

He had suffered from kidney disease for many years and had a first transplant operation more than 20 years ago.

Father-of-two Nigel had been in a medically induced coma in a Newcastle hospital following a second transplant last week, but died on Monday.

After the closure of Today he went to work for Teletext, as well as undertaking consultancy work for the sports promotions company, Alan Pascoe Associates, where he met his wife Sandra.

In 2007, he moved into PR as a senior communications adviser at Newcastle City Council

Steven Downes, secretary of the Sports Journalists’ Association, said:  “Nigel was an ebullient character who relished his work covering the athletics circuit and boxing during the 1980s.

“He was always so full of life, and that’s the shocking and saddening thing about this news. My thoughts are with his family.”

Former colleagues and contacts also posted a number of tributes to Nigel via Twitter.

Richard Hookham, rugby correspondent at Metro said: “RIP my friend and ex-Teletext pal Nigel Whitefield. Great sports writer, mentor, comedy genius. Prayers for his family.”

Journalist-turned-PR man Ross Wigham said:  “Really sad to learn that Nigel Whitefield has passed away. A real professional who also brought a wonderful sense of humour to all he did.”

And Peter Holt, head of communications at Camden Council said: “So sad to hear of the death of my friend Nigel Whitefield – one of the sharpest senses of humour of anyone I’ve known.”