A loving dad who began to feel under the weather was "gone in the blink of an eye" after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Kevin Ingham died suddenly on October 11 when he suffered a sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest at home. With no previous signs, the 58-year-old had been feeling under the weather prior, before he took a "sudden turn".
Speaking to the ECHO, partner Sue said Kevin began to experience flu symptoms in the middle of the night and "wasn't himself", he was feeling "emotional" until he said he felt "faint". But as he went to sit down, he was "gone in the blink of an eye".
READ MORE: 'Kind and sensitive' son who enjoyed the 'simple things' dies suddenly
Despite "working for so long", paramedics "just couldn't get his heart to start" and it was suggested he had suffered a cardiac arrest as it "all happened so fast".
Kevin was said to have touched the hearts of many people as he had "such a passion for fairness and equality". Having spent the past 20 years looking after and supporting young people, he was a "caring" and "empowering" man.
Sue said: "At his funeral, over 300 people were there, from all over the place, who he touched in one way or another either through work or personal relationships. He should've been a local councillor."
Kevin, who worked as an operations manager across residential homes, was known as a "work dad" as he was "always there to help and guide others", working right across the country, including more recently in Southport. Sue added: "From when I first met him, he'd always wanted to run a youth club."
Having met on a cruise ship in Australia, the pair made their living running pubs before taking over an off licence. But when that began to run down, there was a "pivotal" moment in his life when he decided to go into an industry helping others.
Sue said: "He did voluntary work for two years, which was financially hard but it was giving him confidence and from there he was a care worker and then operations manager. From an early age he always wanted to help."
Daughter Alice added: "It was about community, it was always just something he was passionate about." As the heart-broken family get their heads around the unexpected and tragic loss, they are launching a fundraiser, in his memory, to help other, vulnerable people.
The fundraiser, for An Hour For Others, will go towards the Christmas campaign for children in Liverpool, which is something the much-loved dad "felt passionate about". Hoping to continue to make a difference, over £1,500 has already been donated as Alice said they are "blown away" by the generosity.
Sue said: "He didn't look for glory, he just liked to help people in every day life. He even helped young people in the off licence, he gave a young lad a job. Kevin would be talking to them and they all came to his funeral because they remember what an inspiration he was in their difficult years.
"There were so many people were at his funeral we didn't even know. He was encouraging and inspiring for young people. He was also a huge Liverpool supporter, he was involved in Hillsborough and it did affect him, he never spoke about it.
"We were very involved in the church, he loved cooking and was in the bike club." He leaves behind his loving partner Sue, daughters Alice and Rosie and family and friends.
According to the North West Ambulance Service, a cardiac arrest is the "most extreme emergency" and happens when the heart stops beating in a normal way. For someone in cardiac arrest they will die within minutes unless treated immediately with CPR.
More information can be found by clicking here. To donate to the fundraiser, click here.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Couple feel 'ripped off' after spending £1,000 to stay in 'dingy' hotel room
'Billy Whizz' gang with connections to Dubai, India and Iran netted £1million
Gun found in JD Sports bag along with meat cleaver and knuckledusters
Suspect named after man attacked with weapon
Family had guns stolen from army and lived high life from heroin and crack ring
