A 36-year-old father found dead in a bus station was “the best” and “so, so loved”, his lifelong friend has said.
Father-of-one Nathan Davies was found dead at Abergavenny bus station by Gwent Police officers at 6.45am on Wednesday, March 2 following reports of concerns over his unconscious state.
Mr Davies, who ran his own waste management and removal company based in Abergavenny, was pronounced dead at the scene and a force spokesman confirmed they are not treating it as suspicious.
Read more: For more Gwent news visit our Gwent news page here
A fundraiser set up by close and lifelong friend Jay Hamilton-Smith to support his family has now raised more than £10,600, surpassing a target of £2,000 within hours. You can see the fundraiser here.
Mr Davies’ mother Brenda said it “breaks my heart knowing so many thought of him so well to do that”, and she thanked Mr Hamilton-Smith for his generosity.
Mr Hamilton-Smith, 46, says he recently went to prison, which wasn’t the first time he’d served a jail term, but he says Mr Davies “never looked at me any differently”.
“He was like a brother to me, he was always there for me no matter what and that’s what he was like for hundreds of people,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
“He was always supportive, always willing to help, and he was without doubt the life and soul of the party with an infectious smile.”
Mr Hamilton-Smith said he was “flabbergasted” over the response to his fundraiser for Mr Davies’ family.
“I knew the family could do with some support but I went into it not really knowing what to expect,” he said. “I just thought I’d put a generic amount of £2,000 as the target. In the same day it made £8,500.
“I knew he was so, so loved. But the amount of support has totally overwhelmed me.
“It’s heartbreaking for me that I’m never going to get to talk to him again. He was just the best, there’s no other way of putting it. He had the biggest heart.”
For more stories from WalesOnline sent straight to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here
