Tributes have been paid to a dad-of-two who died suddenly while sat on a bench in the street. Roy Anthony, 61, died of a suspected cardiac arrest on Thursday, May 21 near Stapleford Library on Church Street.
Mr Anthony's family say he was well-loved by those in Stapleford after moving there about five years ago. He leaves behind two children, his eldest son Royan Anthony, 18, as well as a 15-year-old daughter Kalsie Anthony.
While his family are still waiting for official confirmation on his cause of death, it is thought he suffered a cardiac arrest near the library. Despite members of the public trying to help and calling the emergency services, he sadly died.
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Mr Anthony had been out of work for most of his life due to health difficulties, instead focusing on being the best father he could be to his two children. He had previously also lived in Beeston and Long Eaton, having moved to Nottinghamshire from Derby around 10 years ago.
His stepson Baron Ridgard, 22, speaking on behalf of his children, said: "He always put his kids first and met up with them regularly. He would always travel to Derby, regardless of the circumstances, to see them. He was always taking them out - he did everything he could for his children.
"To others, he was always talking, always out and about - he never did any harm to anybody. He just minded his own business and got on with his life."
He continued: "My mum took the children there [to Stapleford] and they met a couple of ladies from the library, one of them had called the ambulance. She spoke to them and made sure they knew he wasn't alone and that people were there with him - which I know they really appreciated."
A fundraiser has been set-up to help Mr Anthony's two children with funeral costs, as well as donate money to East Midlands Ambulance Service who tried to save his life. The GoFundMe page states: "As you can imagine this has come as a massive shock to them both, his daughter is in the middle of her GCSE exams and his son is just starting his career and as next of kin they have now been given the responsibility to organise and fund his funeral whilst just young teenagers."
Anyone who wishes to donate to the page can do so by clicking here.
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