FRIENDS battled to save the life of a former police community support officer who collapsed and died in Colchester’s High Street.

Jake Geere, of Arnold Way, Colchester, collapsed outside the Town Hall on Tuesday after feeling unwell on the morning he was due to sit an exam.

Members of Harlow’s Security Industry Authority training group, of which Mr Geere was part, put him into the recovery position before two nurses, who were on their way to work, stopped to help.

But the married 33-year-old was declared dead at the scene.

One friend said: “It all happened in minutes.

“He was laughing and joking, and then he started making these noises and we just thought he was joking around.

“When he collapsed to the ground we realised he wasn’t. We put him in the recovery position and tried to help him.

“The nurses said we had done everything we could. But they said there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent it.”

Tributes have been paid to Mr Geere, who had been training to regain his doorman’s licence and had previously been a PCSO in Colchester town centre for a number of years.

His friend added: “Jake was a really nice, generous, bubbly guy. He was so caring and always really friendly. It’s a massive shock.”

Insp Jim White, of Essex Police, said Mr Geere had been a PCSO for four years and had left at the end of 2011. He said: “Jake was a large man with a kind heart. He was liked by the team and many in the town.

“He had an amazing ability to bring back intelligence by talking to many people and helped us solve a number of crimes just by getting out and about on a regular basis and chatting.

“He had a very good relationship with store detectives and staff in Colchester town centre shops and was a well known figure in Castle Park, an area he had particular responsibility for.

“He helped out a great deal with keeping nuisance at bay in the park, and assisted the park rangers in their duties.

“We were all really shocked to hear of his death and very saddened. We are aware he leaves a daughter, who he used to talk about constantly.

“It’s a tragedy and our thoughts are with his family and his daughter at this time.”