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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jon Brady

Tributes to 'guardian angel' dad-of-three found dead on Scots beach

Tributes have been paid to a dad-of-three who was found dead in the Angus town of Montrose.

Tom Hopkins' family say they are "gutted, sad and heartbroken" at the news.

The 35-year-old was found on land near Esk Road, Montrose yesterday morning.

The Cheltenham plasterer leaves behind his partner Connie Mitchell and three sons aged, 13, 10 and seven.

Police quickly sealed off the scene, with locals reportedly spotting armed cops in the area.

Officers say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

His partner Connie said: "14 years of loving you so hard that it breaks my heart to write this!!... I’m lost with out you but I have our 3 beautiful boys by my side who miss you like crazy...

"Thank you to people who have messaged and phoned me but Im just heart broken at the moment to read them.... Tom passed away last night and is now our guardian angel!"

Tom's family has been paying tribute on social media (Collect)

His father, Richard Hopkins, said: "I am gutted sad and heartbroken to have to tell you all my eldest son Tom was found this morning passed away on a beach at Montrose, Scotland.

"Our family would ask for no phonecalls right now we are not answering questions.

"RIP Tom we love you more than the world."

In messages posted on social media Richard said he hadn't slept for 40 hours as the hunt began for his son - and has not been able to rest since the tragic find was reported.

An organiser of martial arts tournaments in Gloucestershire, he has vowed to stage an annual championship in his son's memory.

He added: "Tom was 35 and was such a good Son/Man whom everyone loved. To lose him to hidden mental health like this is tragic for every one of us who knew him.

"Tom was a quiet, secretive, loving man with a heart of gold and whom everyone around him loved. We will not get through this alone we will all stick together as a family and with our many friends."

Tom's brother Rich had issued an appeal on Facebook yesterday after learning he had been spotted in Montrose. However, he later removed the post.

Rich said: "I still can't believe your gone Tom. I didn't get the chance to tell you, but I loved you so much. I just wish we had more time.

"I'm gonna miss you bro, fly high up there xx."

His other younger siblings also paid tribute.

Bobby Hopkins said: "Love you brother, I will always miss you."

Ricky-Lee Hopkins said: "My big bro...miss you so much already," signing off the message with a heart emoji.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "“Police were called around 3.40am on Tuesday, 2 November, 2021, following the sudden death of a man in the Rossie Island Road area of Montrose.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

  • When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.

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