Dad died on day he was due to be reunited with son after five years apart – Birmingham Live

A dad died after suffering a heart attack on the day he was due to be reunited with his son following a five-year gap.

Will Neville was pulling his shoes on to meet father Steve when a police officer knocked on his door to tell him of the tragedy.

It was a shattering blow, coming after the pair lost contact when Will's parents split in 2005.

Will, from Edgbaston, said: "It was devastating to receive that news and to know I wasnt able to say goodbye.

"You never know how youre going to react, especially when I hadnt spoken to him in a while. But it hit me hard and I was in a state of shock."

Their reunion was planned after Will resolved to make contact when he turned 21.

"I wanted a relationship with him, so I got in touch and we arranged to meet up," he said.

"I was getting my shoes on to leave when a police officer came to the front door and told me that dad had been found dead."

The tragedy happened on July 4, 2010.

Steve, who had angina and lived alone in a flat in Oldbury, was discovered when colleagues became concerned after he had not turned up for work. He had suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a heart attack.

The court caretaker was just 56 and left behind sons Will, now 31, and Tom, now 32.

Ten years on, Will is marking the sad anniversary with a 120-mile round-trip bike ride to his dads favourite spot, Carding Mill Valley in the Shropshire Hills, where his ashes are scattered. He will raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

And Will, who lives with wife Charlotte and their 18-month old son, Ben, has another reason to support the charity - because he too has experienced heart problems.

The homeless services manager said: "I started to notice a pain in my chest which I ignored at first.

"But throughout the day it got worse and I told my friend, who said I should get it checked out. I went to A&E and I was told that Id had a heart attack, caused by the narrowing of the arteries in my heart.

"I was told that my lifestyle at the time could have been a factor in this, as my diet was poor and I wasnt exercising. After what had happened to my dad, I knew I had to make some changes."

Will was in hospital when Steve's ashes were scattered at Carding Mill.

But, following positive changes to his lifestyle, he has been discharged as an outpatient, as doctors are happy his heart has recovered.

In the West Midlands alone, there are around 660,000 people living with the daily burden of a heart or circulatory disease. These conditions claim around 14,000 lives in the region each year.

The BHF funds life-saving research into all heart and circulatory diseases, including heart disease, stroke, vascular dementia and its risk factors, including high blood pressure and diabetes.

However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the charitys research investment could halve this year.

Clare Cassidy, area fundraising manager at the BHF, said: Were delighted that Will chose to take on this very personal event in aid of the BHF and we are so grateful for the money he has raised so far.

Our life-saving research is fuelled by the generous donations of the public, but the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic means that our investment in new research could fall by 50 million this year.

Thats why we need the support of the public to back the BHF now, more than ever.

Will said: It feels amazing to raise money for the BHF and know that this money will help the charity fund research into heart and circulatory conditions, like those that have affected both myself and my dad.

To donate to Wills fundraising mission, visit: http://www.justgiving.com/Steve-Neville-Memorial-Ride

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Dad died on day he was due to be reunited with son after five years apart - Birmingham Live