A YOUNG father who owned a Nelson takeaway business has died of a suspected heart attack aged 28.

Jamal Ashraf’s wife and family said that they have been left ‘totally shocked’ by his sudden death.

The Blackburn dad-of-one had been in good health according to his family before being taken suddenly ill after going to bed.

His mother Subia said: “He came home from work at about 11.30pm and was in good spirits. He was very happy and seemed well.

“He was playing with his son and throwing him into the air and catching him.

"We had no idea that there could possibly be a problem with his health. He had always been fit and healthy.

“Jamal went to bed and at around 5.30am his wife came into our room to tell us that Jamal was not breathing properly.

"We called an ambulance but he died on the way to hospital.”

Mrs Ashraf said there was a history of heart problems in the family and doctors had told her that his death is suspected to be due to heart failure. Results from a post mortem are due in three weeks.

Mr Ashraf was a graduate of Sunderland University where he gained a pharmaceutical degree.

He ran Jamal’s takeaway in North Road, Nelson and was just weeks aqway from qualifying as a driving instructor.

He lived in Revidge Road with his wife Maryam, 27, and son Mohammed Shaik Jamal, two, along with his parents, Subia and Mohammed.

Subia said that her son’s wife was struggling to come to terms with his sudden death on Saturday, while their son was too young to understand what had happened.

She added: “It is such a tragedy that his son will never know what sort of a man his father was.

“He was so generous and kind and he was devoted to his family. He was hard working and was trying to make a success of himself.

“Jamal was a good boy who didn’t drink or smoke and looked after himself.

“His son is the spitting image of his father. The only difference is that Mohammed is a bit more naughty than his father was!”

Mr Ashraf took over the takeaway from his father four years ago and worked there most days. His family said that he dreamed of a career in medicine but had trained as driving instructor to earn extra money.

At his funeral on Tuesday more than 600 people packed in to a ceremony at Pleasington Cemetery.

Coroner Michael Singleton has been informed of Mr Arshad’s death and a full inquest is expected to take place later this year.