Friends of a much-loved Teesdale firefighter have raised more than £5,000 towards his funeral.
Alex Suttie, who lived in Barnard Castle, died suddenly in November aged just 24, leaving his family and many friends devastated.
However, because it proved extremely difficult to identify the cause of death, the funeral had to be put on hold, with a date only being finalised this week.
Alex, who also worked as a lifeguard at Teesdale Sports Centre, died in the early hours of Monday, November 10. It was initially believed his death was the result of head injuries sustained when he fell from his mountain bike on November 8.
But, after the initial post-mortem proved inconclusive, a new examination has revealed Alex died of sudden adult death syndrome.
A close friend speaking on behalf of the family and the fundraisers said the impact of Alex’s death had left “an immeasurable hole in the hearts of everyone who knew and loved him”.
She added: “Alex wasn’t only a devoted son, brother and friend, he was someone who dedicated his life to saving others.
“As both a firefighter and lifeguard he was someone who ran towards danger when others needed help. Protecting people wasn’t just his career, it was his calling.
“His courage and selflessness touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Alex initially moved with his family to Barnard Castle in his early-teens and soon built up a large friendship group at Teesdale School, where he was an extremely popular pupil.
Those strong bonds remained when the students left school and he made further friendships when he started work with the fire brigade.
He was stationed in Darlington and was also a retained firefighter in Barnard Castle. His name has been added to the Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service Roll of Honour.
To help with the financial burden facing the family following Alex’s sudden death, his friends decided to set up an online GoFundMe page with the aim of raising £5,500.
That target is now within reach and the money will be a huge help to the bereaved family.
“You don’t prepare for your 24-year-old son to die,” explained the spokewoman, “so we just want to do as much as we can to support the family, they’ve had so much to deal with. They are facing the unexpected cost of a funeral and memorial expenses.
“We’d also like to set up a memorial bench somewhere in Barnard Castle for Alex and maybe get a plaque at Darlington Fire Station. Hopefully we can raise some more money over the next few weeks.
“Alex poured his heart into everything he did, from playing the guitar to snowboarding, and so many other passions,” she added.
“In our small town, Alex was known for his warm smile and infectious laugh. He left a mark everywhere he went.
“The family have told me how grateful they are for the love, kindness and support they’ve received from all his friends, as well as the generous donations made to the GoFundMe page.”
The family have confirmed that Alex’s funeral will take place at Darlington Crematorium on Wednesday, February 25.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can visit Alex’s Funeral and Memorial Fundraiser on gofundme.com
