Following his death, his mother – former Coronation Street actress Debbie Rush – said the family’s “hearts were completely broken”.
The actress who played Anna Windass in Coronation Street for a decade, described William as “our beautiful baby boy”.
She said: “There are no words that can truly capture the depth of our loss.”
She also paid tribute to her son’s decision to become an organ donor before he died.
“Even in our darkest moment, William gave the most precious gift of all,” she said.
“His kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy.”
Rush, who lived in Rochdale, auditioned for ITV talent show The X Factor in 2016, and made it as far as the “six-chair challenge”, the stage between boot camp and judges’ houses.
