A granddad who collapsed and died while walking at a popular beauty spot had scattered his brother's ashes the day before. Friends have set up a fundraiser in memory of Mark Sweeney, who's thought to have suffered a fatal heart attack at the summit of Rivington Pike near Bolton on Sunday morning.
An air ambulance and mountain rescue team volunteers rushed to the scene, but despite their best efforts Mr Sweeney sadly died. A GoFundMe has now been set up to raise funds to help his immediate family, LancsLive reports.
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A tribute on the page describes Mr Sweeney as an 'adored husband to Wendy, idolised dad to Luke and Lyndsey, beloved grandad to Finley and Amber'. It adds: "He was a brother, an uncle and an amazing friend and a rock to everyone in his life.
"He was healthy and fit. I mean he rode his bike to Rivington Pike for God’s sake. So to say his passing came as a shock to everyone is an understatement.
"We scattered his brother’s ashes the day before. Mark was a mountain biker who was very passionate about the outdoors and about life in general.
"He loved life, he loved his family and all the holidays they had together. He was kind, he was funny and he would do anything for anyone at a drop of a hat.
"We try our best to say the right things to his broken family or to know how to help them."
The fundraiser will help the family take time off work to deal with the funeral and grieve their loss. It is hoped there will also be a memorial bench at Rivington Pike.
Any leftover money will then be donated to the air ambulance and mountain rescue. The fundraiser continued: "We also wanted to use this as an opportunity to share the day and time we will be saying farewell to Mark. He will be having a direct funeral, therefore no service.
"His funeral cortege will be leaving Carl Kenyons (155 Eaves Lane, Chorley) on Friday, June 2 at 8:15am. Anyone who wishes to wave Mark goodbye is welcome to come and stand outside ready for when his coffin leaves. The cortege will then head to Howe Bridge crematorium (Off Lovers Lane, Atherton, M46 0PZ). His immediate family will be going in with him, the rest of us following will be standing outside the crematorium ready to offer them our love and support when they come back out.
"There is going to be a celebration of Mark’s life in the near future. Details of this to follow. RIP Mark Sweeney."
In a statement on Sunday Bolton Mountain Rescue Team said: "At 8.29am this morning the team were contacted by North West Ambulance Service who were requesting our assistance at an incident at Rivington Pike, following a 999 call regarding a male reported to be in cardiac arrest.
"North West Air Ambulance had also been called to the scene. Our first team members and vehicles arrived at 08:53 to meet with the NWAA crew. Members of the public, including two nurses who happened to be nearby, had started CPR before the arrival of any emergency services.
"Despite the best efforts of all involved, sadly the man died. Lancashire Police attended shortly afterwards, as is normal procedure. When initial enquiries were complete, Bolton MRT members conveyed the man to the waiting NWAS ambulance to George's Lane at the bottom of Rivington Pike.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man who sadly lost his life. Thank you to the many members of public out walking who kindly kept away from the scene of this incident."
You can donate to the fundraiser here.
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