Ste Snell died without warning, after he collapsed at the factory where he worked. Tributes have poured in for the ‘best dad’ whose kids were ‘his entire world’
Tributes are pouring in for a 32-year-old dad who tragically passed away after collapsing suddenly at his factory job. Ste Snell was described as “having a laugh” with a colleague right before his collapse.
This has now spurred his family to highlight the perils of sudden cardiac arrest, after losing the “fit and healthy” father of two from Liverpool.
Best friend James Jones was left reeling by the unexpected loss, telling the ECHO: “There’s no words because it’s that much of a shock. He went to work on Sunday and just didn’t come home. We can’t believe it.”
After the incident on March 2, Ste’s quick-thinking co-workers sprang into action with CPR, and he was swiftly flown to a hospital. But despite undergoing cardioversion 17 times, Jones recalled that his heart “wouldn’t beat any longer than 40 seconds.”
The dad-of-two was placed into a medically-induced coma, but tragically, his organs began to fail. Leaving his family with the impossibly difficult decision to switch off his life support.
Jessica, James’s wife, reflected on how robust and healthy Ste was: “He was perfectly fit and healthy. He wasn’t overweight, he didn’t drink. He’d go the gym a couple of nights a week and he’d take his kids swimming. The Sunday morning he was in work, all the lads in the factory ordered sausage and bacon butties and he was eating a protein yoghurt. That’s how healthy he was.”
In a touching tribute, Jessica said: “He did everything for Michelle and his two kids. Michelle and his kids were his entire world. He doted on them, he was the best dad. He was the best brother and he adored his mum. He was a fantastic partner, a brilliant friend and a massive Liverpool fan. He’s so missed by everyone.”
James echoed these sentiments with high praise, saying, “He’s infectious, Ste. Even if it’s a two-minute conversation, I don’t think he’s ever not made me laugh, ever. He was just the funniest person you could ever come across. He’d do anything for you. I can’t express how nice of a person he was. The world’s just a worse place without him.”
Following the heart-wrenching news of Ste’s passing, hundreds of ECHO readers offered their condolences, sharing heartfelt tributes and messages of support for his family. Lesley Carroll posted on the ECHO’s Facebook page: “Our lovely Ste will never be forgotten and we will all look after Michelle, James and Ada and you will always be in our heart.”
Overcome with emotion, Ste’s mum Jackie Snell simply wrote: “My beautiful boy.”
Amidst the grief, Ste’s family aims to highlight the critical issue of cardiac arrests in youths and the life-saving significance of CPR expertise.
According to the British Heart Foundation, starting immediate CPR is vital if someone is having a cardiac arrest. It keeps blood and oxygen moving to the brain and around the body. In Ste’s case, it meant he was able to say goodbye to his family.
Jessica said: “The fact that Ste’s colleague knew CPR meant Ste could say goodbye to his family. It kept him alive long enough to do that. It’s just so important to know the signs of cardiac arrest. It’s so sudden and it can happen to anyone.”
Ste, who had signed up to be an organ donor a few years before he died, was able to save a child’s life by donating his heart valves. Jessica said: “He saved a child. He was an organ donor and his heart valves were in that good of a condition he was able to save a child’s life.”
After Ste’s death, Jessica set up a GoFundMe page to help ease the financial burden that has been placed on Michelle. Jessica said: “She has to rebuild her whole life again. They’ve got a mortgage together, they’ve got a home, they had a car together, everything. It’s just to help her in any way she needs.” To visit the GoFundMe page click here.