A LOVING wife has paid tribute to her husband who died suddenly from a heart problem.

Rick Darnell, 61, from Colchester, died in November from stenotic coronary artery atheroma.

He and his wife, Cheryl, found out the news in October and Rick was due to have a heart bypass after Christmas. He was due to have tests to see if he was healthy enough for surgery, but did not cope well after the diagnosis.

Wife Cheryl said: “I had to look after Rick and my daughter Ellie, who is in a wheelchair - she’s only nine. Anyone would think Rick gave birth to Ellie, he did everything for her.”

Cheryl and Rick were well known in the town for their involvement in raising funds for the Colchester Children’s Charity Appeal. Friends and members of the public they have supported sent messages of sympathy on Facebook.

Ellie has an unknown condition which is being investigated at Great Ormond Street Hospital, but it limits her speech and movement.

Motorbike fan Rick worked at Colchester General Hospital as a porter and was also in the Royal Artillery.

He met Cheryl at the hospital 27 years ago and they were married for 24 years. His funeral is being arranged.

She added: “Rick was a gentle man, loving, caring and a joker. He loved his rabbits but it got too much for him due to his heart, so I looked after them for him.”

He has three children - Lynda, Mark and Julie, step daughters Julie, Julia and Katie, and he had two children with Cheryl - Hollie and Ellie.

Rick's funeral is on Wednesday, December 20 at 3.30pm.

Cheryl is calling all bikers to follow Rick as he was a biker himself.