WORKMATES died within minutes of each other as tragedy struck on a Burnley building site.

Roofing contractor Billy Heaton, 51, raced off a roof to help when he saw labourer George Taylor, 45, collapse on the ground as they worked at a house in Ightenhill.

But within minutes Mr Heaton also collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

Ambulance paramedics fought to save their lives but both were pronounced dead on arrival at Burnley General Hospital.

Father-of-three Mr Heaton was administering the kiss of life to Mr Taylor on instruction from the householder at The Ridings, a pregnant nurse who herself was unable to help because of her condition.

Post mortem examinations were due to be carried out today.

Mr Heaton, of Accrington Road, Burnley, was on his first day back at work after returning from a two-week holiday in Salou, Spain, with his partner Kathleen.

He had a heart condition and had undergone a triple by-pass operation six years ago.

Mr Taylor, of Fenwick Street, Burnley, had worked with him for some years. He too was a married man with children. A shocked family today told how Kathleen and Billy, a grandfather, had planned to marry later this year after an 18 year relationship.

Kathleen's sister Eva McGough said: "He was very well-known and popular and had everything to live for. They were planning two more holidays this year."

She added: "Everyone is devastated - it is a terrible tragedy."

A police investigation is being carried out but there are no suspicious circumstances. It is thought both men died from natural causes.

A police spokesman said: "A call was received from the ambulance service control at 2.51pm yesterday saying they were going to an address in Burnley following a report that a man had collapsed.

"They arrived to find that two men who were working on a house extension had both collapsed and died. One of them was trying to save his friend when he also died. It is strange that two men should have both collapsed and died, it is a terrible double tragedy.''

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.