Tributes have been paid to a loving dad-of-three who died suddenly after a night out.
Kevin Orwell and his wife Joanne had travelled to Chester to celebrate a friend's 40th birthday with three other couples when tragedy struck last weekend.
After enjoying a night out with food, drinks and karaoke they'd met up for breakfast the following morning.
But when they made their way back to the Macdonald New Blossoms Hotel, Kev collapsed and was found by Jo and her friend Vicky a few minutes later.
Despite CPR the 41-year-old tragically died at the scene.
"I think he was still with me at that point," said Joanne, from Astley, Wigan. "He looked so peaceful and he didn't look in any pain. He didn't have any marks or look like he'd banged anything, it must have been instant.
"The paramedic eventually came in and said they really needed to make the decision to stop working on him. They said his brain had been starved of oxygen for so long that if he did come round he wouldn't have been a healthy man and Kev wouldn't have wanted that.
"I stayed with him and our friend Pete was there too and just didn't let go of his hand."
Eventually Kev, whose own dad Dave died suddenly from a cardiac arrest at the age of 54, was taken to the hospital, while the others had to start notifying his friends and family back home, including Kev's sister Lisa Sarno, who drove to her mum Denise's home in Walkden, Salford, to break the news.
Jo had her family, including cousin Shelley, minding the couple's three boys - Alfie, 12, Jack, eight, and Harry, seven - at their own home, but didn't want to tell them anything until she arrived back.
"I text my family from Chester and just said, 'don't panic', we're going to be a bit late, I'll explain when I get back'," said Jo, 40.
"I didn't want to even say anything in a message in case they were with the boys and broke down reading it, so I said nothing.
"When we got back I walked in and the boys said 'where's dad?'. I said 'just come and sit down a minute boys'. I told them he'd been poorly that morning and that he wasn't in any pain but he's now with grandad Dave in heaven.
"I don't think Harry really understands," she added. "He was asking when are we going to see him again.
"I'm concerned about Jack as he seems to be struggling and is just not talking about it, he's shutting himself off. He keeps shutting his door and saying 'I just want to go to sleep'.
"Alfie has been a bit more open and he asked me this morning about it and I said 'we think it was his heart'. I said it was extremely quick and he wasn't in pain.
"I just feel guilty because we've gone away to Chester and their dad's not returned. We're here and he's still there."
After a 'torturous' wait, the result of the post-mortem examination came through on Monday afternoon showing that Kev died from sudden heart failure, which they'd suspected was probably the case.
Despite it being little more than a week since his death, thousands of pounds has already been raised for the family with a gofundme page set up by Kev's cousin Ryan Tobin.
It's a huge relief for Jo, whose work as a beautician was affected by the pandemic, on top of Kev being made redundant from his job as a Sky engineer in October 2021.
"Kev put all of his redundancy into setting up as a tiler, doing tiling courses and buying equipment," said Jo. "But there just wasn't enough work and people had started cancelling jobs. This year he was talking about finding permanent employment.
"He was absolutely amazing, so talented. He was an electrician and joiner by trade so he could do all sorts. He converted our garage and loft and he built the cabin outside which I work from.
"He really was the best dad and husband you could ask for, he'd do anything for us. I know people always say that when someone dies but he really was the best.
"He was the best cook and made everything for us from scratch. He went without to give us everything. He never bought himself any new clothes, he would give you his last penny. And he was always helping other people out."
The former Joseph Eastham High School pupil, who grew up in Walkden, had a number of passions, including Manchester United and his beloved Tyldesley Rugby Union Football Club, where his two eldest sons play on the junior teams.
At the weekend a minute's silence was held before the Under 13s game against Bolton and Alfie was clapped onto the pitch by families and players.
Jo, said she wouldn't be coping without the support of those around them, including everyone at the club and all their friends and family.
"It's overwhelming," she said. "We never wanted anything, we didn't expect anything, but it's so lovely that so many people are thinking of us. Even the Bolton team on Sunday turned up with a white England rugby shirt for Alfie, which I want to thank them for.
"I just want to say a massive thank you to all out family and friends, especially the Tobin side of the family, there's no way we could have got through this without them."
Jo knows there is a long road ahead for her and the boys and is determined to keep Kev's memory well and truly alive.
"We are such a close family and as well as our three boys, Kev doted on his two nieces Jessica and Anna," she said. "Only recently he was boarding the loft and he got all his CDs down and was showing them to Alfie. Now Alfie has got all those in his room."
Alfie, a pupil at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley, paid his own tribute to his dad.
"He was the best dad," he said. "He taught me how to cook, he took me to football games, he took me to rugby every week, he was always there for me.
"He tried his best at everything he did for me and my brothers. He got me everything I asked for because he loved me so much.
"He introduced me to his favourite music and last week gave me all of his old original rap CDs which I love. He helped me with my homework when I was struggling, he was always there for me and my brothers.
"He gave me his autographed Manchester United shirts and built shelves in my bedroom so it was perfect for me, he was the best dad ever. We love and miss him everyday."
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