Two months ago, desperately ill Star Wars fan Jordan Lyons feared he may not live to see the new film.

His family launched a campaign to convince Disney allow the 24- year-old, born with cystic fibrosis, to host a special screening for him.

Although the campaign was unsuccessful, Jordan became one of the first in the world to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, at the cast and crew premiere in London last Wednesday.

Family friend, Elliott Jackson, had worked on the CGI for the film and was allowed to bring a friend.

Jordan, of Earls Colne, said: “It was a real surprise when Elliot rang.

“I thought he was just going to say he was going to the premiere but then he asked if I wanted to go with him.

“I was like ‘Oh my God’ and was so shocked.”

The film, which saw stars of the original Star Wars films including Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, link up with a new generation of actors including John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, more than met Jordan’s expectations.

Jordan said: “The film was fantastic and I am still on a bit of a high from it now.

“It was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

“It was almost surreal – we have waited 20 years to find out what happened next.

“It definitely lived up to my expectations.”

Jordan made headlines after his family launched a campaign, called Sithtic Fibrosis – a play on the Sith characters in the film – to get Disney to put on a special viewing.

Jordan said he understood that the company had probably been approached by quite a few people who wanted the same thing.

He was driven to the screening by his mum, Lynne Heaton.

She said: “It was all very tight security and hush-hush.

“I wasn’t allowed in and they took their phones away from them until they went in.

“We didn’t even know where it was going to be until a few days before.

“Jordan was so excited.

“It was like a dream come true for him.”

The family also attended a private screening for 25 members of his friends and family at Braintree Freeport’s Cineworld on Monday.

Jordan said: “I will happily see the film again.

“I want to see it another 20 times.”