A friend has paid tribute to a 42-year-old family man who died at work following a heart attack - despite efforts by his workmates to save him.

Billy Egan, 42, of John Street, Brightlingsea, was part of a gang of bricklayers building a house at Old Barn Farm, Hart's Lane, Ardleigh, last Tuesday.

Friend, Gary Skeggs,from Ardleigh, said Mr Egan had been complaining of pains in his left arm all morning and had telephoned his wife to make an appointment for him at the doctors.

He was found slumped at an office desk by farmer Henry Woods, the air ambulance was called while Mr Skeggs tried to resuscitate his friend.

"It seemed like an age before the air ambulance arrived, but I don't suppose it was really any more than four or five minutes," he said.

"The ambulance crew said it was probably a massive coronary heart attack and though we did all we could they said Billy probably died at the desk. But it is never a waste of time trying to save someone. You don't know how they are until the experts get there.

"What made it worse was that he was a friend. I would do the same for anybody, but he was a mate."

Originally from Liverpool, Mr Egan originally moved to Brightlingsea some 12 years ago.

Farmer Mr Woods said: "It is tragic, Mr Egan was only 42."

Mr Egan leaves a wife Marge and two children, Liam aged 14 and daughter Ashley aged 11. His funeral will be held in Liverpool this week.

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