A once-feared football hooligan and member of the notorious Zulu gang, who turned his life around to become a film star, mentor and dedicated charity worker, has died.
Barrington Patterson, who was known to many as One Eyed Baz, has died of a heart attack, his devastated wife has revealed.
The 56-year-old was a huge Birmingham City FC fan and the club lead tributes to the man who later worked across the Midlands to combat homelessness and knife crime.
The club tweeted: [We] are saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong Bluenose, Barrington Patterson.
" All of our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. May you rest in peace, Baz."
His devoted wife Tracey revealed her husband died with a message on social media, which saw tributes pour in.
She tweeted: "At 6am this morning my beloved husband had a massive heart attack.
"Paramedics worked for over an hour to save him unfortunately it wasn’t to be our hearts are broken."
West Midlands Ambulance Service Operations Commander Taff Duggan said: "Oh no I am so sorry to see this.
"Such a gentleman always a pleasure to see him. Sending my best to you and your family."
Barrington revealed last year how he was left "absolutely smashed" by Covid-19.
He wrote on Twitter : "I thought I was taking precautions against covid while working and dropping food parcels.
"Spraying the van, cleaning my hands, social distancing, I still brought covid home.
"I was thinking to myself: 'I’m not coming home from this' while being blue lighted to the QE."
He added: "It’s the truth I had covid and sepsis. I’m fit and active and it absolutely smashed me."
His shocking death, just days after he posted details of his anti-knife crime work on Twitter, came after a traumatic last four years for the couple, with Tracey subjected to abuse by trolls, Birmingham Live reports.
Barrington's poignant final tweet showed him campaigning for a better Birmingham until the very end.
Last week, he posted: "Bit of what I have been up to I hope that our work in the community will make a change #knivesdownglovesup."
He added: "I have come to Longdon Hall School to talk to kids about gangs, about violence, behaviour in school and everything.
"Some of the kids are good, man.
"I have got through to one or two of the kids.
"I hope they see sense and I hope they take in what they learn today."
