A wife has paid a heartfelt tribute to her husband who died after collapsing on a Cumbernauld street.
Dad-of-three Edmond Toma passed away on Wednesday (February 23) after suffering a heart attack while out walking in the town's Kildrum Road.
He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The 57-year-old was originally from Romania and had moved to Cumbernauld with his wife, Iuliana, 52, twin sons Mihai and Alex, 18, and daughter, Andreea, 13, back in 2019.
Edmond had suffered heart failure four years prior to his death, and became a stay-at-home father to this children after being forced to give up work.
His heartbroken wife, Iliuana, who works as a care assistant in a local care home, says his loss has been "terrible" for the family.
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Iuliana told the Daily Record: "I had just popped to Glasgow to meet some friends. The police phoned me but wouldn't tell me anything because I was out. They didn't want to tell me [that he had died] over the phone.
"My first thought was about the kids. They phoned me saying, dad isn't home yet. I was sure he should have been home already. He was on medication but his condition was controlled. He would walk for one hour every single day and listen to music.
"I was so worried. All three kids were in the house so I knew they were safe so when the police called me the second time I said, is something wrong with my husband?
"I asked the police to tell me what happened but again they said they couldn't tell me over the phone and that they needed to see me face to face. I came home in a taxi and that's when they told me. It has been terrible for us. We still can't believe he's not with us."
Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Iuliana says it is unlikely that their family in Romania will be able to travel to Scotland for Edmond's funeral as it is posing 'too dangerous'.
Iuliana added: "He was a very present dad. He was very hands-on. We spent a lot of time together and were just enjoying life.
"All our best friends are in Romania. The war in Ukraine is making it difficult for them to travel because they are very close with Russia there. It is very expensive to buy a plane ticket in such a short time, too."
As they don't have many friends or much of a support system in Cumbernauld bar one family who are also from Romania, a GoFundMe page has been set up to support Iuliana and her children as they navigate their tragic loss.
The fundraiser notes that Edmond was "a loving husband to Julianna and father to twin boys and a daughter", and has been set up by a friend of the family "to raise funds to help this lovely, heartbroken family, whom are in a state of shock".
The fundraiser has so far raised over £800 of the £1,200 goal.
If you would like to donate to the family's fundraiser, click here.
