Tragedy as sportsman dies aged 32

He lived for sport and was happily planning his wedding to his beautiful fiancee. But Michael Bristow was living on borrowed time and died suddenly aged just 32 after doctors in Wolverhampton discovered a rare heart tumour.

A keen sportsman and avid Wolves fan, the former Codsall High School pupil used to play for Bilbrook Juniors and Codsall Old Boys. He also completed a marathon in Nottingham in aid of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in memory of his late father Alan, who died of the disease.

Formerly of Stretton Gardens, Codsall, Mr Bristow got engaged to his 27-year-old Rebecca Tarry while skiing in America. While there, he contracted pneumonia but was given the all-clear to fly back to the couple’s home in Nottingham.

But after feeling unwell again, the researcher came back to Codsall to be with his mother Hazel and was rushed to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton on March 16. He died the next day.

Heartbroken Mrs Bristow said today the family was struggling to adjust from planning his wedding to arranging his funeral.

The 64-year-old, who works on the Elizabeth Arden counter in Beatties, said: “His fiancee Rebecca is just in pieces. They were supposed to be looking at venues this week and picking out bridesmaid dresses ready for the wedding later this year.

“He was very gentle and lovely but also very witty and always immaculately turned out.

“He and Rebecca were going to move back to Codsall next year and start a family.”

Mr Bristow’s family and friends will be raising a glass to his memory at Molineux on Thursday next week after his funeral at St Nicholas’s Church in Codsall at 1.45pm.

Mrs Bristow added: “Michael travelled the world with his friends and I think he crammed more into his 32 years than most 80-year-olds.”

She added that her son was also looking forward to becoming an uncle in two weeks as his brother Matthew and wife Gemma were expecting their first child. Mr Bristow studied psychology and sociology at Middlesex University, achieving a 2:1, before securing a master’s degree in psychology. He was also working towards his PhD.