Dad-of-five dies suddenly on holiday after collapsing during conversation with ‘childhood sweetheart’

A dad-of-five died suddenly on holiday after collapsing in a caravan he was sharing with his wife and children.

Jeff Dunning, 35, from Ellesmere Port, was on a family holiday at Robin Hood Centre in Rhyl with his “childhood sweetheart” wife Vicky and their five children - aged between 9 months and 15 years - in August.

His friends and family, who paid tribute to the "larger than life" dad who was a "legend", said Jeff had been for a morning walk before returning to the caravan where he collapsed mid-conversation.

Despite the efforts of his wife to revive the delivery driver, Jeff died, leaving behind his "devastated" family.

‘He was talking to his wife mid-conversation when it happened’

Abigail Ackroyd, a friend of the family, has now set up a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of Jeff’s funeral.

She told the Liverpool Echo: "Jeff’s mum had been unwell with cancer so she was in the last few months of her life and then she passed away.

"Jeff and his family, his wife and five children were all grieving that loss but then Joyce, Jeff’s mum, had a caravan in the Robin Hood Centre that she’d never been able to go to as she was too poorly.

"So they decided as a family to visit while waiting for the funeral to have some family time.

"They went down on the Monday and by the Friday morning there were no signs of him being unwell and he’d got up, made some breakfast, went for a walk, spoke to some people on the site and went back to the caravan.

"He was talking to his wife mid-conversation when it happened.

"His wife was there for an hour trying to save him before the air ambulance came and they tried absolutely everything but she already knew that he had gone.

"It’s just so terribly sad, I can’t even believe it when I say it.

"It doesn’t seem like it’s real and it doesn’t seem like it’s fair, how he can be there one minute and then not the next? It’s just not fair."

The fundraiser has now raised more than £6,500 of the £7,000 goal. To donate, visit the Jeff Dunning GoFundMe page.