'1st class' lifeboatman dies on 60th birthday hours after celebrating with crew

20 April 2023 , 15:02

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Ashleigh Holtby sadly died on his 60th birthday (Image: Weston RNLI)

Tributes have been pouring in for a dad and 'first class' lifeboatman who died just hours after celebrating his birthday.

Ashleigh Holtby, who joined the Weston RNLI crew in 1986, tragically suffered a stroke on his 60th birthday on Sunday.

The father-of-two had spent Friday morning celebrating his landmark birthday with a breakfast on Weston seafront with members of the crew.

Hours later, he was rushed to Musgrove Park Hospital but sadly died, report Somerset Live.

Mr Holtby, an accomplished seaman working on the boats in Weston before becoming a taxi driver, had a bleed on his brain from an aneurysm aged just 38.

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The dad-of-two celebrated his birthday with crew members hours before he died (Weston RNLI)

After his stroke his crew number, five, was held open for him as a sign that he was always welcome back until his official retirement finally came.

Once he recovered from the stroke, although he was not fit to go on the boat crew, Mr Holtby, who lived in Weston, threw himself into fundraising for Weston RNLI.

Weston RNLI spokesman Glyn Hayes said: “Ashleigh joined the Weston RNLI crew in 1986.

“He was already an experienced boatman and soon showed he was an accomplished seaman who understood the sea, waves and wind better than most. He was a first class seaman and always happy to train the rest of the crew and offer advice.

“He was the crew member who you always wanted with you on the lifeboat when it went out into hazardous and stormy conditions. The RNLI itself even used him as a poster boy for their campaign to raise donations.

“Ashleigh had a wicked sense of humour which went down well with the rest of the crew.” While working as a fundraiser, Mr Holtby worked in the lifeboat shop at Anchor Head.

“He was well known for regaling both the visitors and his fellow helpers with his stories of the sea, lifeboats and fishing.” Mr Holtby suffered another stroke in 2018 but his unflagging support for the lifesaving charity continued.

Mr Hayes said: “He always had advice for new crew members and regularly attended crew breakfasts on a Friday. He will be sorely missed but his life much rejoiced.

"Ash was 'old school"' and had amazing knowledge in that head of his, a natural boatman, natural ability, he could run rings around any manual you care to mention.” During Mr Holtby’s lifeboat service, 135 lives were saved and many more rescued by the Weston lifeboat.

Heather Pickstock