Chris Neill was flying back to Liverpool from Bulgaria with his two sons, Reece and Archie
Tributes have poured in for a “lovely” dad who died while flying home from holiday with his two sons and his son’s girlfriend on a Jet2 flight. Chris Neill left Burgas in Bulgaria at around 1pm local time on Monday, September 16 for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, but while onboard the flight home he fell ill, suffering chest pains.
The flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Cologne, Germany, where the dad-of-two from Runcorn is believed to have suffered a severe heart attack and collapsed before dying following half an hour of CPR. Yesterday, September 24, Chris’s dad, Mal, paid tribute to his son.
He told the ECHO: “He was a staunch Everton fan and brought his children up as Everton fans. He lived life to the full and he was bubbly. He was 6ft 4in and went to the gym every day, he was massive. He lived for his children and when I was going through photos for the GoFundMe there are so many of him and his sons.
READ MORE: Woman, 24, died in Ibiza and her family are still waiting for answersREAD MORE: Dad’s tribute to ‘bubbly’ Everton fan who died on Jet2 flight to Liverpool
“He was full of fun, bubbly, he would do anything for anybody. I know people say that when someone dies but he would have. He was really liked by everyone.”
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
Following the coverage of the death, tributes have poured in from ECHO readers, with people who knew him leaving heartfelt comments. Sam Reece commented: “Such a lovely person, thoughts are with his family. Please donate if you can even a little bit will help them all at this sad time x.”
Kirsty Woods said: “So sorry for your loss he was a top bloke good friend to everyone.”
“So sad big man you will be missed god bless yea my thoughts are with his family,” Graham Mcintyre commented. Laura-Jane Kent said: “[I] remember when I met you in the lion you were so funny proper winding me up you was full of so much banter we was all laughing are heads off. Rest easy dude please donate if you are able too let’s get Chris home so he can be laid to rest thinking of your boys and family at this heartbreaking time.”
The 40-year-old’s family have set up a GoFundMe to help with the costs of repatriating Chris and help with the costs of the German medical bills and funeral costs. To read more or donate, click here.
