The heartbroken family of a Scots dad have spoken of their grief and shock following his sudden death. Wedding singer Stephen McCluskey, from Airdrie, had been preparing to sing at wrestler and comedian Grado's wedding before falling unwell on June 6.
The dad-of-two walked upstairs to complain to his fiancée Kirsty - whom he had just proposed to last August - that he was feeling faint, but before he made it to bed, he suddenly collapsed, reports Glasgow Live.
The 43-year-old suffered a cardiac event due to an undiagnosed enlarged heart and tragically passed away leaving behind daughter, Evie, 15, and son, Ezra, six.
Stephen was well-known for his exceptional voice and was loved by members of the community. His grief-stricken family say are still coming to terms with the loss of their beloved sibling, partner, son.
Speaking about the heart-wrenching moment he found out about Stephen's death, younger brother Liam said: "I've got two young kids so normally I'm up early with one of them in the middle of the night.
"I had a few missed calls at 3:33am from my oldest brother and my second oldest brother. Initially I thought it was something to do with my mum or her partner.
"When I phoned back I was told Stephen had passed away, I will never forget those words. Everyday I can hear my brother Peter telling me that Stephen passed away.
"The shock immediately kicked in and I was on auto-pilot until the Saturday after the funeral when reality kicked in. On Saturday morning when I woke up everything was gone, life had changed."
Liam said Stephen was known for his caring nature and willingness to help those in need. He would always look to put smiles on faces and adored sitting down to watch a movie with his two children with a cup of tea in hand.
Even during the funeral, the singer's final song was played and it truly encapsulated his talent and brilliant sense of humour. The grieving brother said: "He was an entertainer. If you asked anyone who knew him, he lit up the room.
"He'd pick the guitar up and put a smile on your face. His cheesy motto was 'I'm kind of a big deal!' and it would make us laugh. He was a genuine, loveable person. I have never heard someone say something negative about him.
"Him and his partner did a lot of charity work in the local village. He was always looking to help where he could and refused to take any money for it at all. Stephen took pleasure in giving back. He was one of those guys that you'd feel lucky to spend time with."
Liam has set up a GoFundMe to help the family cope with the massive hole left behind by Stephen. The 43-year-old's fiancée and brothers, Liam, Peter, Martin, Paul and Gerard, have been blown away by the support shown by the public, with over £11,000 raised, and believe it truly shows the number of lives the Airdrie wedding singer has touched.
Liam explained: "The way I am coping with the grief is helping Stephen's family as much as I can. My brother went out his way to help so many people, now I think there are people who want to help his family.
"After three days we raised £5,000 and that just showed how many people knew him and loved him. However, his loss leaves a hole that will never be replace. It is something I will never get over but it is about how I cope with life after this."
Although Stephen's life was cruelly taken away at such a young age, his brother is adamant that he will never be forgotten. He said: "His legacy will live on through his kids and in the hearts and minds of those he helped."
To donate to the GoFundMe click here
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