by Joe Walker
joewalker@thekmgroup.co.uk

A GIRL who held her dad’s hand after he collapsed and died at home has paid a touching tribute to her “hero”.
Heartbroken Summer Hammond, 13, and little brother Ronnie, six, watched as popular Mick suffered a suspected heart attack on Sunday night.
He had just turned 40.
His death has stunned people in the town, where he and fiancee Chloe Rush were familiar faces.
Herne Bay High pupil Summer said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It was so unexpected and it’s still quite hard to believe he’s actually gone.
“He was getting Ronnie a blanket because he was cold, but then just fell to the floor. He got back up and was shaking and then collapsed again.
“He was such a fun-loving man and the best dad in the world. We’d been arguing over the weekend but I’m so
glad I was holding his hand when he died.
“He had the three most important people in his life by his side – and his dog Archie. Chloe and dad were together for two-and-half years. She was his soul mate and he absolutely adored her.”
Construction worker Mick collapsed about 11pm. Paramedics rushed to the house and tried in vain to resuscitate him for an hour.
Keen fisherman Mick grew up in Hampton as the youngest of six, sharing his parents’ attention with five sisters.
He went to Herne Bay High School and was a construction manager for local firm Ducron when he died.
Tributes from his family and friends have poured into a Facebook site set up in his memory.
Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.

See this week's Herne Bay Gazette for full report.