TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular postman who tragically collapsed and died at the age of just 44.

Royal Mail man Stephen Henry became ill on 25 July and had gone to Inverclyde Royal Hospital, but he returned to work when he saw there was a four hour wait in casualty.

The dedicated post office worker had felt he couldn’t wait that long and went on his rounds.

Only a few hours later he died outside his home in Port Glasgow’s Mid Avenue.

His sister Caroline Darrah, the manager of Harbour Barbers in Greenock, says the whole family is struggling to come to terms with their terrible loss.

She said: “He went up to hospital that morning but when he saw there was a four hour waiting time, he had to go to deliver his letters.

“He met his work partner later, who said he didn’t look well and took him in his van to my mum’s house.

“He sat on the bench outside and collapsed — a neighbour, John Jamieson, gave him CPR for 15 minutes.

“The man is distraught, he was trying to save him.

“An ambulance arrived with paramedics but Stephen was gone.” Stephen stayed with his parents George, 64, and Ellen, 65, and had worked as a postman for 24 years.

He was well-known and loved in the community and more than 500 people turned out to pay their respects at his funeral in the Holy Family Church last Monday. Caroline says Stephen had felt sick and light-headed for a few days prior to the tragedy and he had been off his food.

His family are still reeling from the shock of his sudden death, with his parents absolutely devastated by their terrible loss.

Caroline, 42, said: “We’re worried about my mum and dad, you shouldn’t have to bury your son. They’re not coping at all. My dad doesn’t keep too well and we didn’t realise how much Stephen did for him.

“My dad’s just aged overnight.” Stephen also left behind his brother George, 43, who lives in Ireland, and sister Lyndsay, 36, who stays in Newcastle, plus nephews and nieces.

Mum-of-three Caroline said: “He was a gem of a guy, he had a lovely nature and was always smiling.

“He never missed a day at work and lived for mum and dad and his work.

“He was very well liked — you couldn’t say a bad thing about him.

“He stayed at home and was spoiled rotten. He had all his washing and ironing done and when he came home his dinner was on the table and on a Sunday he had breakfast in bed.” Stephen was a huge Celtic fan and travelled everywhere to watch his team, and he was also a member of The Hibs and Knights of St Columba social clubs in the Port.

His Royal Mail colleagues joined family and friends in the massive turnout at his funeral.

Caroline said: “All the post vans were lined up outside and the church was full. It was unbelieveable, there were no seats left.

“The staff in Port Glasgow stopped work for an hour as a mark of respect, which was really nice, and the bosses from the Post Office were there too.

“All the members of the Hibs Club and the Knights lined up outside the entrance of the church carrying flags.” It’s been an especially emotional time for grieving Caroline as she also became a grandmother for the second time on 6 August with the arrival of her son Brian’s wee boy Lucas Stephen Andrew.

Her daughter Jennifer, 25, is also due to get married on 29 August.

She said: “We’ve had a death, a birth and a marriage.

“I think Stephen sent Lucas to us — he’s very like Stephen when he was a baby. My dad was crying when he saw the baby.” The family still face an agonising wait to find out what happened to Stephen, as a post mortem has proved inconclusive and more tests will have to be carried out.

Caroline says she has also made a complaint to the hospital over the waiting time displayed in casualty when Stephen arrived.

She said: “If it had said an hour, he might have waited.

“I don’t know if it would have saved his life but he might have had a fighting chance.” A special tribute will be made in Stephen’s memory when his picture will be displayed on the big screen at his beloved Celtic Park at the start of the club’s season on 16 August.