A dad-of-six was found dead in his bed by his wife.
Anthony Jackson was just 46 when he suddenly died, with his phone in his hand, while lying in bed. His wife Danielle woke up to find her usually noisy husband lifeless next to her.
Danielle, 32, described her husband, who died on Sunday, July 10, as "loveable, funny and friendly". Family friend Lotte Wakelin told the ECHO : "He was a nice, normal bloke with a loving family. He was well known in Warrington, it's just so sudden. I think everyone is struggling to process what's happened because it was so sudden."
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The 39-year-old said she is astounded at how childhood friend Danielle is doing following Anthony's sudden death, with her managing to juggle organising the funeral and looking after their four children while grieving. The rape and sexual abuse support worker said: "She's amazing. We're all preparing meals and dropping food off for them so she doesn't have to cook and worry about that while she sorts the funeral out.
"She's functioning so well, and don't get me wrong, she is still so upset but she's managing to do everything she can. She's remarkable."
The trained chef turned joiner leaves behind six children, Sonny, 14, Amelia, eight, Harrison, six, and Woody, four, who are Danielle's children, as well as twins Nathan and Megan, 17, from a previous relationship. Now Lotte has set up a GoFundMe to support the family and help raise some funds towards Anthony's funeral.
She said: "I just want to raise as much money as possible. Because the death was so sudden they don't have any money prepared for the funeral so any money that is raised will help."
To read more or donate, click here.
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