A former soldier has died from a suspected case of pneumonia after collapsing outside of his home.
Gary Carroll, 31, was walking to his car from his property in the Hilltown area of Dundee when he blacked out and slumped to the floor.
An ambulance was called to Fairbairn Street and a paramedic helped walk the former Scots Guard soldier to his home.
But just minutes later Gary lost consciousness again and despite repeated attempts to resuscitate him, the dad-of-one couldn’t be saved.
Gary’s parents Raymond and Sheila Carroll, both 55, were heartbroken when they received the news while on a cruise off the coast of Portugal at the time.
Sheila, a warden at Dryburgh Sheltered Housing, said: “We had been watching shows on the cruise and when we went back to the room there was a note inside saying to call Ray’s sister.
“It was a massive shock when we found out and we spent the next 24 hours trying to get back home from Lisbon. We are just numb with pain totally devastated. We haven’t taken it in yet.”
Gary, father to six-year-old Ciaran, had been complaining of chest pains for about two months before his death and was regularly spitting blood.
Doctors said it was probably a chest infection and had issued medication while waiting on the results of a scan.
The cause of death is still unclear, but the family said it was likely to be related to a problem with the former St John’s Academy pupil’s lungs.
Sheila said: “He had been saying there was something not right with him. He had been spitting up blood and he was going to the doctor about it.
“He had a sore chest, was struggling to breathe and was always tired, but we didn’t think it was as serious as this.”
Gary was a solider in the Scots Guards for three years, but went on to have a career offshore working alongside his dad in a variety of roles.
He lived with girlfriend Debbie Bell, 25, and enjoyed fishing and hunting. Sheila added: “He was a real character and will be sorely missed. Everyone in the Hilltown area knew him and his wee Jack Russell, Zack.
“The reactions we’ve had with all the flowers, cards and messages on Facebook have been incredible.”
His funeral is at 11am on Monday at James L. Wallace on Strathmartine Road.
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