In memory of those who "died suddenly" in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Romania and Spain, June 21-June 27
A BBC journalist, and a London cyclist "dying suddenly" mid-race; an Irish trad guitarist; a Romanian poet; a German paralympic athlete; a chess champion and a hotelier in Spain; and all too many more
UNITED KINGDOM
Heartbroken BBC radio presenter Lauren Laverne reveals her mother has passed away and pulls out of BBC Glastonbury coverage
June 25, 2022
Lauren Laverne has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her mum Celia Gofton after she suddenly died while the radio host was presenting at Glastonbury Festival.
The 44-year-old radio breakfast show presenter, who is covering the Somerset festival for the BBC, honoured her mum with an emotional Instagram post.
The DJ shared a sweet message about how Celia was the 'most compassionate and most tenacious person I have ever met' as she shared her 'utter heartbreak'.
No cause of death reported.
Harry Gration dies aged 71 - all the latest tributes and memories of BBC legend
June 24 2022
Tributes have been paid to former Look North Journalist Harry Gration who has suddenly died.
The BBC confirmed his death today (Friday) and stated “we’re absolutely heartbroken.”
Mr Gration, who was 71-years-old, started presenting Look North in 1982. His last appearance on Look North was in October last year.
Confirming the tragic news, the BBC said: “Our much loved friend and colleague Harry Gration died suddenly today. We are absolutely heartbroken to give you this news.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/harry-gration-dies-aged-71-24319932
Schoolboy, 14, collapses and dies in class 30 minutes after telling gran 'I love you'
June 23, 2022
Tributes have been paid to a "perfect" teenager after he suddenly collapsed and died in class.
Ted Sanderson, 14, sadly passed away at Woodham Academy in County Durham, on Tuesday.
The schoolboy was rushed to James Cook University Hospital, but medics were unable to save his life.
There has been an outpouring of grief for Ted, who was passionate about music, loved fishing and shooting and wanted to one day become a teacher.
His sudden death has left his family, friends and wider school community in shock.
Police investigating sudden death of teenage girl
June 24, 2022
Police are investigating the sudden death of a teenage girl in Cardiff. Officers were called to a wooded area in the Rhiwbina area of the city at around 7.30 pm on Thursday, June 23. A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said that there are "no suspicious circumstances" and added that the girl's family was currently being supported by specialist officers. A police investigation is under way on behalf of HM Coroner.
Parents of children at Whitchurch High School received a letter on Friday confirming that a pupil at the school had died. It said that the school had received the "tragic news" of the death of one of the pupils and staff have talked to all students. The school added that they would be "monitoring" pupils closely and could provide whatever support was needed.
Exact age not reported.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/police-investigating-sudden-death-teenage-24313876
Police investigate sudden death of female soldier, 23, as comrades pay tribute to 'her resilience and professionalism'
June 21, 2022
Police are investigating the sudden death of a female soldier as her comrades paid tribute to her 'resilience and professionalism.'
Soldier Sophie Madden, 23, died suddenly on June 10 in a Ministry of Defence building in Folkestone, Kent.
The 23-year-old was a gunner in the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, based in Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland.
Her death is currently being investigated by Kent Police.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10937077/Police-investigate-sudden-death-female-soldier-23-comrades-pay-tribute-resilience.html
EMG UK Chairman Barry Johnstone Dead at 76
June 24, 2022
Barry Johnstone, chairman of EMG's UK companies, co-founder of CTV in 1980, and a key industry figure in the UK and global sports production marketplace for more than 40 years, died of a heart attack last night at the age of 77 [sic].
Since the 1980s, he was a mainstay in sports and music production in Europe and has also developed a reputation among U.S. and world broadcasters as someone who could be relied on year after year.
https://www.4rfv.com/2ANYS52JIDQ6/598/emg-uk-chairman-barry-johnstone-dead-at-76.htm
‘He was the most intelligent, unassuming man I ever met’: Big Issue mourns vendor John Byrne; The Big Issue has been inundated with tributes from friends, family and customers of John Byrne’s after the much-loved vendor died suddenly last month.
June 26, 2022
London - Tributes have rolled in for much-loved London Big Issue seller John Byrne who died last month. Byrne, who sold the magazine for more than 20 years – most recently on Regent Street in central London – was found dead in his flat on Saturday May 21.
The Big Issue’s Natalia Stevenson paid tribute to the much-loved vendor, 59, who also supported other Big Issue sellers as a magazine distribution co-ordinator in London. “John had many layers to him, and we will miss all of them. He was welcoming and funny, always with a good story to tell,” said Stevenson, a service broker for The Big Issue’s charitable arm The Big Issue Foundation.
“He was well-known and popular at his local pub, with many friends there, who would often visit him on pitch too. He was an extremely intelligent man, a historian with a degree, always with interesting facts about past monarchs up his sleeve. . . .We were very lucky to know John – he will be greatly missed, and we will remember him fondly.”
No cause of death reported.
Teenager's touching tribute to 'best mum ever' after she falls ill at bus stop and dies
June 25, 2022
A teen has paid tribute to 'best mum ever' after his mum's tragic, unexpected death. Carol McKinnon took unwell at a bus stop on the way home from work. She was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where medics found out she had a brain bleed. The 41-year-old died a few days later on June 19.
Her sudden death left her loved ones bereft and heartbroken, and 14-year old son Reece McKinnon has declared her ‘the best mum ever’. Reece, who also lost his dad four years ago, told Lanarkshire Live: ”My mum was the life and soul at every party. She made the party a party.”
Recalling the events leading to Carol's untimely death, her nephew, Jay McGall, said: “Aunt Carol didn’t have any symptoms or anything. She just walked to the bus stop to go to work and had a seizure when she was waiting. We were having a family dinner when we got the call that she had been taken to the hospital. She had another seizure once she was there and the doctors did tests and found she had a bleed in the brain. They moved her to the ICU and told us she only had a day.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/teenagers-touching-tribute-best-mum-27326724
‘Kind and selfless' husband and dad dies suddenly at work aged 38
June 23, 2022
Chris Houghton-Rai died suddenly on June 21, after collapsing at work. Family and friends have paid tribute to a "loving, kind and selfless" husband and father, who has died at the age of 38. The Loughborough resident, who was a parts department manager at Toyota Vertu, collapsed unexpectedly while at work.
His wife, Raj Houghton-Rai, said an air ambulance was despatched to the scene at Belton Road but after 90 minutes of "exhausting every measure" paramedics were unable to save her "soulmate". While the details surrounding the father-of-one's death are still unclear, his loved ones said they are still in a state of shock and have not yet come to terms with the tragic news. Raj said: "I'm feeling utter disbelief, shock, devastation, pain and panic."
No cause of death reported.
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/kind-selfless-husband-dad-dies-7247978
Ride London 2022: Cyclist dies after cardiac arrest near Stebbing Green as family pays loving tribute
June 23, 2022
A cyclist who was suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of the RideLondon event, has died. Other cyclists and medics rushed to help Valentin Buliga when he fell ill during the Essex race, on May 29, at around the 49-mile mark. East of England Ambulance Service attended the scene where they were called at 8.36 am on the B1256 near Felsted. The man was treated and taken via road to the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre for further treatment.
Sadly, he never regained consciousness and died in hospital yesterday (June 22). RideLondon has confirmed the participant to be 41-year-old Valentin Buliga. Romania-born Valentin was a property and construction business owner from northwest London.
John Jorja, speaking on behalf of Valentin’s family, said: “Valentin loved cycling and was so happy and excited on the morning of the event. He was a fantastic person, colleague and friend. He very generously gave the gift of life to others after he passed.”
https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/ride-london-2022-cyclist-dies-7248046
Mum dies suddenly after shock cancer diagnosis on Las Vegas Celtic trip
June 24, 2022
A football fan who travelled to a Celtic convention in Las Vegas has died following a sudden diagnosis of cancer during her trip. Ellen Cassidy, 55, from Springburn, Glasgow, had been looking forward to a “trip of a lifetime” to the States to meet Celtic players past and present at the Northern American Federation of Celtic Supporters Clubs (NAFCSC) convention.
“Ellen had been planning this trip for the Celtic convention for a few years now, she is a mad Celtic supporter, dotes on them,” her friend Elizabeth McGoran told STV News. “With Covid, it got cancelled so this year she was looking forward to it. When she arrived she wasn’t quite feeling herself but she put it down to tiredness. The next day she spent a bit of time by the pool to relax and enjoy herself but then she went up to the room as she was feeling unwell. Her partner Phil went up to check on her and the reception phoned an ambulance and she was taken to hospital.”
Doctors at the hospital in Nevada initially thought the problem was her gallbladder, but following surgery they realised the organ had cancer. Further scans discovered cancer in her kidneys, lungs and liver.
“Died suddenly” in the water:
Saltcoats Harbour: Man dies after emergency situation
June 27, 2022
A man has died after an incident at Saltcoats harbour, say police. Emergency services attended the area at lunchtime today (Monday). Police said a 65-year-old man was taken from the water but died soon afterwards. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the man's death. Police and ambulance crews were observed at the scene of the incident at around 1.15 pm.
No cause of death reported.
Richard Elvin, 66
June 24, 2022
It is with great sadness that I have to notify the profession of the sudden loss of my great friend and colleague, Richard Elvin - a massive stalwart of the general dental practitioner (GDP). He died very suddenly on Wednesday 27 April 2022.
I first met Richard in our student days at UCH London in the late 1970s, and this was the beginning of our 40+ years of friendship. After a few years as an associate, he bought a practice in Borehamwood in Hertfordshire which he grew into a successful practice. We decided that he would sell his practice and we went into a long and fruitful partnership in the late 1980s, until Richard sold the practice in 2011. He fully retired as a clinician in 2015.
No cause of death reported.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41415-022-4399-z
IRELAND
Legendary trad guitarist Dennis Cahill dies aged 68
June 21, 2022
President Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to legendary trad guitarist Dennis Cahill, who died four days after he celebrated his 68th birthday.
One of Ireland’s most acclaimed guitarists in traditional Irish music had celebrated his birthday on Bloomsday, June 16.
Friend and fellow musician Jimmy Keane announced Cahill's death on his website on Tuesday.
"Our dearest Dennis passed away peacefully on Monday evening, with his beloved Mary by his side as she has throughout his journey," he writes.
"Just moments before — we were comforting Dennis while The Lament for Limerick from Dennis’ album with Martin was on in the background — and as the track advanced to My Love is in America, Mary turned off the player, leaned over to hug and kiss Dennis one last time – and then he was gone…
https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/legendary-trad-guitarist-dennis-cahill-27293646
Shock and sadness at the death of Cllr Jerry O'Dea
June 25, 2022
Cllr O’Dea passed away suddenly overnight at the age of 55.
Mayor Daniel Butler said: “I was shocked and saddened to hear this morning of the death of our council colleague Jerry O’Dea. It is very difficult to get your head around such tragic news. Our thoughts are with Jerry’s family and friends and his party colleagues at this terrible time. We are all in total shock.”
https://www.limerick.ie/council/newsroom/news/shock-and-sadness-death-cllr-jerry-odea
Beloved Tramore Woman Laid to Rest
June 23, 2022
LAST Saturday and Sunday, June 18 and 19, Specsavers in Waterford city closed as a mark of respect for their long-serving and beloved staff member, Christine Guidera. The 42-year-old mother of four, late of Moonloun and Ballycarnane Woods in Tramore, died suddenly on Monday, June 13.
Christine died very suddenly following a tragic fall, a sad fact which Fr. O’Halloran alluded to during his homily.
https://waterford-news.ie/2022/06/23/beloved-tramore-woman-laid-to-rest/
A mysterious “swimming pool incident”:
Irish girl, 7, dies days after swimming pool incident in Spain holiday hotspot Majorca
June 22, 2022
An Irish seven-year-old girl has died in hospital two days after being pulled from her Majorcan hotel pool and revived before being rushed to an intensive care unit. Sources at Son Espases Hospital in the island capital Palma confirmed she had lost her fight for life on Wednesday afternoon.
A routine police investigation into Monday’s incident at the four-star HYB Eurocalas Hotel in the east coast resort of Calas de Mallorca is ongoing.
The youngster was rushed to hospital “in a critical condition” on Monday afternoon with police clearing a path for her ambulance so she could get there as quickly as possible.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/irish-girl-7-dies-days-27304906
Tributes paid to 'true gentleman' Dublin man who passed away unexpectedly
June 21, 2022
Tributes have poured in for a beloved Dublin man who passed away unexpectedly in Malahide last week.
Daniel Burke is understood to have passed away in Malahide Castle when out for a run on Sunday, June 12.
Age not reported.
https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/tributes-paid-true-gentleman-dublin-24278552
Tributes pour in for 'kind and caring' 18-year-old Irishman after sudden death
June 25, 2022
Tributes have poured in for a 'true gentleman' and 'greatest friend' Sean Carr, after his sudden death.
The 18-year-old went missing from his home in Killurin, Co Wexford, last Monday.
Gardai later stood down a search for Sean after his body was found.
https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/tributes-pour-kind-caring-18-27326190
GERMANY
Paralympic athlete Birgit Pohl passed away
June 21, 2022
The successful Paralympic athlete Birgit Pohl from Gera died on Tuesday. This was announced by the DRK district association in Gera, citing the family. Among other things, Birgit Pohl was involved in the water rescue service of the German Red Cross.
The track and field athlete, who had flaccid paralysis in both legs, won medals in three Paralympics and was successful in German and international sports competitions. At the European Championships for Disabled Athletes in 1999, she broke world records in shot put, discus and javelin.
At the 10th Paralympics in Atlanta in 1996, Birgit Pohl won the gold medal in the shot put with a world record of 8.36 meters. In 1997, the Gera native also won the third gold medal for Thuringia in the discipline of discus throwing at the World Championships in Disabled Sports in Nottingham and won the world championship title with a world record in the shot put.
Birgit Pohl was 68 years old.
No cause of death mentioned.
https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/thueringen/ost-thueringen/gera/paralympic-birgit-pohl-tod-100.html
ROMANIA
Ancelin Roseti died. The poet was 55 years old
June 21, 2022
The poet Ancelin Roseti has recently passed away. In the spring, the writer announced that he had suffered a stroke (without paresis), a cyst on the brain, one on the sinuses, high blood pressure.
Ancelin Roseti was born on May 25, 1967, in Bârlad. He was a poet and publicist, a member of the Romanian Writers' Union. He has published poems, literary chronicles and pamphlets in "Dacia literară", "Convorbiri literare", "Bucovina literară", "Porto franco", "Opera magna", "Procust", "Baadul literar" - a magazine founded by Cezar Ivănescu, "
https://infocultural.eu/a-murit-ancelin-roseti-poetul-avea-55-ani/
SPAIN
Emilio Sánchez, regional chess champion, dies at 38
June 24, 2022
Regional chess is in mourning. Emilio Sánchez, renowned chess player from Beniaján, has died today at the age of 38 in the Murcian district of Torreagüera, where he lived with his partner.
Sánchez had been regional champion on several occasions, but in recent years he dedicated himself to managing the Beniaján Casino Club, which he took to the highest levels, proclaiming himself champion of Spain in the Honor Division on one occasion, thanks to the additions of players from all over the world.
A FIDE chess master, he also ran the Douchess company, together with his partner, which was dedicated to teaching chess classes to young people in schools.
Popular hotelier found dead in his local La Ñora, in Villaviciosa
June 25, 2022
José Luis Cordera Miranda, a popular hotelier at a beach bar in La Ñora, was found dead yesterday in the store attached to his premises, leaving the entire town of Villaviciosa in dismay, where the businessman had been based for about a decade. His lifeless body was found late in the morning, according to witnesses, and the first investigations of the Civil Guard suggest that the death was due to natural causes, surely a coronary failure. The deceased was 53 years old . . .
The neighbors explain that the body of the hotelier appeared in one of the premises of the beach bar, which was also used as a home, around noon. Several had seen him in recent days "with complete normality", so the news of his death left the residents of the town of Quintes dismayed.
While waiting for the investigation to be closed, the hotelier's body showed no signs of violence and everything indicates that the death was due to natural causes.
https://www.lne.es/gijon/2022/06/25/hallan-muerto-hostelero-asturiano-chiringuito-67666957.html
Thanks Mark for your great work on these sudden deaths. I feel it's a way to honor these folks. 🙏💕🌷
It's heartbreaking to think about each individual tragedy. A 14-year-old boy's tribute to "best mum ever". A wife agonising about losing her "soulmate". The evil satanic minds behind this democide must be feeling ecstatic...