A dad who was "loved by everyone" died suddenly just weeks after his fiancée was given a devastating diagnosis.
Mally Grant died after suffering from a heart attack at his home in St Helens on March 12. The 56-year-old's fiancé and partner of 12 years, Melanie Fallon, said his death was "totally unexpected" and came after he woke up in the middle of the night.
Melanie, 55, told the ECHO: "He'd been to work on Friday, done his job, come home, went on his PlayStation and had chili con carne with rice for tea. It was totally unexpected."
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Melanie said Mally went upstairs to watch TV at around 11pm that night and she followed soon after. The couple watched TV together before going to sleep.
Melanie said Mally woke up in the middle of the night complaining of pains in his chest and sadly died at around 5.40am that morning.
She said: "I'm struggling because he was my absolute rock. My everything. I'm going through cancer at the moment. He was my rock financially, emotionally, looking after me afterwards - it's just all gone."
Melanie was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, also known as uterine cancer, on February 1 after attending a routine doctor's appointment. She must now undergo surgery at Liverpool Women's Hospital including a full hysterectomy and the removal of lymph nodes, which have become enlarged.
She said: "I didn't think it would come back [as cancer]. You see it on TV about breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, but no one really hears of uterine cancer"
A Gofundme pag e has been set up to raise money for Mally's funeral and support Melanie and the family at this time.
Paying tribute to Mally, Melanie said: "He was loved by everyone. He was the most helpful person - if you wanted help Mally was the first one there. We've been together nearly 12 years, we met online. He'd do anything for me.
Mally was described as a keen biker and fisher and previously worked as a taxi driver in St Helens.
Melanie added: "He was brought up in St Helens and everyone knew him around St Helens. You couldn't go anywhere without someone talking to him."
A message on the fundraising page reads: "We are raising funds for Mally's partner Melanie, and his family, to help with the funeral and other unexpected costs at this tragic time.
As many of you know, Mally lived with his partner Melanie, who begins her treatment for cancer in the next few weeks. The devastating loss of Mally has had a significant impact on her and his family. We hope to reduce some of their stress by helping with funeral costs and other unexpected financial burdens."
If you would like to donate to the Gofundme page click here.
