The daughter of a grandad who passed away while fishing said he died doing what he loved. Barry Lomas, 68, sadly passed away on Friday (September 9) at the Moss Farm Fisheries in Irlam.
According to his daughter Claire, Barry - who was an avid angler - had gone to the moss with his friends but died after a sudden heart attack. Speaking to the MEN about her father's love for fishing Claire said: "If you said to my dad 'when it's your time to go, how would you want to go?' without a doubt it would have been fishing.
"Most photos I have got of him, he's fishing. It's not nice that he's gone, but it is nice that the he went the one way he would have liked to go."
READ MORE: Family pay heartbreaking tribute to boy whose horrific death has sparked major murder investigation
Barry developed his love of fishing from an early age thanks to trips he would take with his father in Langley, Middleton where he grew up. The grandad of two grew up in a large family eight with his two brothers, and three sisters.
Claire said that the last time she saw her father was at his birthday party where he was in 'high spirits'. She told the MEN how on the day he died he had complained of an upset stomach and thought he had suffering from food poisoning and the family were 'shocked' at his sudden death.
Speaking to the MEN she said: "It was actually a heart attack, but it was sudden. We didn't know about any heart problems and it's come as a shock to the family but we're just having to get on with it."
On the day of his death, Moss Farm Fisheries owner Alan Whitehead, his wife and colleague attempted to resuscitate Barry. Claire , from Bolton, said she has been to visit the site and lay flowers at the peg where Barry sadly passed away.
Alan Whitehead, who has named a peg after Barry at the fisheries spoke to the MEN about the dramatic moment he rushed to save Barry's life. Speaking to the MEN about the ‘sad’ moment Alan said: “When he first came he told my father-in-law that he didn't feel that good.
“This afternoon my Mrs came in the house and said there’s a man dead on the fishing peg. We went over and he was sat on his seat with his friends around him. I think they were in shock.
"I lifted him up and started giving him CPR. Me and my wife were taking turns doing it, and then all the paramedics came and they were working with him for ages and they took him to Salford Royal.
“His daughter has sent me a text saying that he passed away. It’s just sad."
A spokesperson for NWAS said they were called to an 'incident at Moss Farm, Cutnoot Lane, Chat Moss at 14.02' where they 'responded to a medical incident' and took a patient to hospital.
Barry leaves behind his daughter Claire, his grandchildren Scarlett, 11, and Leo, 10. As well as his sisters Sue Hardman and Joanne Lomas.
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
- Salford dad flew to Australia and took his own life after both parents died just weeks apart
'It's terrible... just leave it alone': Residents hit out after popular Manchester green is dug up
King Charles in tears as Queen's coffin is lowered into vault and mourners sing God Save The King
Manchester's first city centre park in a century to open this week
The 'pride' of men who built the Queen's hearse in Wigan factory
