THE family of a 40-year-old man who died after collapsing on a golf course said he will be remembered as a “devoted and loving father and husband”.

Paul Thompson was playing at Blackburn Golf Club in Beardwood Brow with a friend when he suddenly collapsed from a suspected heart attack.

He was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital where medics in the critical care unit fought to save him, but he died two days later without regaining consciou-sness.

His wife and partner of 10 years Deborah was by his bedside.

They have two daughters together, Cara, eight, and four-year-old Georgia.

Her brother Mark Whelan, from Blackburn, said the whole family was still reeling with shock at the tragedy.

Mr Whelan described his brother-in-law as “a really nice bloke”

He said: “Paul would do anything for you and was extremely well-liked.

“I think he will be most remembered as being a devoted and loving father and husband.”

Paul and Deborah, who married in 2003, knew each other when they both attended St Christopher’s CofE High School, Accrington, and lived in Sandy Lane, Accrington. He used to work for Nat West bank in Burnley, Blackburn and Accrington but lately had been working in risk assessment in Manchester.

She paid tribute to her “very kind and loving” husband.

A keen golfer and sportsman, Paul had been a member at Blackburn for two years, and was a member at Baxenden Golf Club before that.

When he was younger, he managed Altham juniors football team and continued to play five-a-side matches.

Mr Whelan said: “He was never ill, and was always fit and active, we recently returned from a golfing holiday and was absolutely fine in the days before, this just came from nowhere.”

He also leaves parents John and Elizabeth and siblings Peter and Helen.

The funeral is on Tuesday, 10am, at St Paul’s Church in Accrington.