Dad who 'was always cracking jokes' dies suddenly after watching football match

24 October 2023 , 18:34

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Paul McHugh died suddenly on Saturday night (Image: Supplied)

A beloved dad known for his beaming smile died suddenly after getting home from watching the Merseyside Derby.

Gym instructor Paul McHugh had not felt well on October 21, when he started the day playing football with friends. Later, the 37-year-old went to Anfield to watch Liverpool’s win over Everton and when he still did not feel well went to the walk-in centre. He went home afterwards but an ambulance was called overnight and was rushed to Aintree University Hospital and he died the same night. His cause of death is currently unknown as a post mortem has not been held yet.

Colin Campbell, manager at Lifestyles Alsop Fitness Centre where Paul worked, told the Liverpool Echo of the popular dad of one: “Paul was a friend to everyone he worked with. He was always checking in with people outside the gym and asked them to give him a call if they needed anything. He had a really positive energy and was great to be around. I was always telling him 'please send me some of that energy'. He worked here for 14 years - he was part of the furniture. He had such a big personality. He was a bit of a wind-up, always cracking jokes and smiling. We're all really close at this centre. It's like a family."

Colin revealed the gym has opened a memorial so people can come and share their memories of Paul He added: “From seeing all the tributes online you can see how much of an impact he had on people's lives. There are bigger gyms than Lifestyles but people come for our staff. Paul was the best of us."

Following the news of his death, hundreds of people took to social media to leave their memories of him. Nancy Fletcher, who worked with Paul at Lifestyles, said: "God mate, you've left a massive void. You were truly a gentleman and a brilliant coach, always positive, always smiling, always cracking jokes and taking the p***. A beautiful soul with so much to live for, so much to give, it's just so unfair. My heart goes out to his girlfriend Megan, his daughter Sienna and his poor mother, brother and family."

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Posting under an update issued by Lifestyles Fitness Centres, Kellie Owens said: "I'd like to say thanks to Paul for absolutely everything you have done for me. I couldn't even lift a weight properly or knew really what I was doing. You have helped me so much and pushed me further every week.

"He wasn't just my trainer, he was my friend and I'm going to miss him more than ever. My mate, one of Paul's favourite sayings was 'when you walk out those doors you're going to feel boss all day', and he was right. You would feel like a different person. His smile and his energy around the place was always there."

Antony Thrower