TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular and “outgoing” dad-of-two who died suddenly.

Hamesh Patel was just 44 when he died in hospital from pneumonia on Good Friday.

Well wishes to Hamesh’s wife Rita and their children Milan, seven, and Yash, five, have also been sent from Liverpool football legend Jamie Carragher.

Hamesh and his close-knit family have been long-time supporters of the club, which Carragher played at for 17 years before retiring.

Friends of Hamesh were sent the tribute after reaching contacts of Carragher.

Hamesh ran several businesses in Colchester including @M.Y Convenience in East Street with his dad Bhaskar Patel.

Bhaskar, of Stanway, said: “He was a very kind person with a good personality, lots of friends in Colchester, practically everyone knew him, and he was outgoing.”

His dad said the cause of his son’s pneumonia was still unknown but his son had been suffering from a cold for about a fortnight before he took a turn for the worse.

Two days before he died, Bhaskar said his son kept shivering and slept at their home for most of the day.

Hamesh returned to his home, in Halstead Road, Stanway, that evening.

The 44-year-old was found by his dad the following morning after the school run.

He was unconscious and not breathing.

Hamesh was rushed to Colchester General Hospital and was on a life support machine.

But after a day and a half, his family took the tough decision to allow him to pass away.

Bhaskar, 72, who is married to Jaya, said: “I cannot believe it. I have to be strong for the children.

“They know he is not coming back but he is a star, that’s what we have told them and that if you are good, the star will twinkle.”

Hamesh was born in Berkshire but moved to Colchester with his parents aged five.

He attended Colchester High School and then Colchester Sixth Form College.

He obtained an IT degree from university in Middlesbrough. He later opened a computer games shop in Red Lion Yard, Colchester, before closing it to run two newsagents - Sweet News - with his family in High Street and Queen Street.

After selling these, the family took on @ M.Y. Convenience where Hamesh was well known by his customers.

A Hindu funeral will take place for him on April 13.