TRIBUTES have been paid to a pensioner who died tragically after being bitten by a dog in Walton.

Derek Luckie, 73, of Naze Court, in Old Hall Lane, was bitten by a cross-breed dog at the Naze cliffs on June 25.

Mr Luckie is understood to have contracted septicaemia – severe blood poisoning – and died on July 11 at Colchester General Hospital.

Neighbour the Rev Leslie Ball, secretary of the Naze Court Residents’ Association, paid tribute to Mr Luckie.

“Derek was a fit man, loved playing tennis every day, and swimming and was active in helping with maintenance jobs around our flats,” said Mr Ball.

“He was well liked, a real gentleman.

“He leaves a shocked wife that the community, which is also in shocked, is seeking to support.”

Mr Ball is also a friend of the dog owner, who he said is “absolutely distraught” over the incident.

“The dog herself was known to me as a very friendly but lively pet and I often walked with them and my own dog across the Naze,” he said.

“The incident was not a vicious attack, but a friendly, over exuberant dog approaching a stranger to make friends, but unfortunately, he nipped my neighbour.

“The owner was very apologetic, saying it had never done that before. The two men parted amicably.

“Tragically, the bite turned out to be infected, leading to a horrible attack of sepsis.

“The dog owner is a well-respected member of the community, very caring and one who would always do the right thing.”

She said the dog owner has been in touch with the police and had been left distressed after officers originally failed to respond after repeated attempts to make contact.

Mr Ball added that the dog has been put to sleep.

An inquest into Mr Luckie’s death was open and adjourned on Tuesday.