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Shop worker, 29, dies after collapse at friend's house in Dudley

A man died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest while visiting a friend at the age of just 29.

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Richard Steventon was discovered unresponsive by Gemma Bayliss after she left him in her living room to take a phone call.

She tried to revive him before he was rushed to hospital by his sister Kerry-Anne – but was later pronounced dead at Russells Hall Hospital.

Since his death on Monday morning, a flood of tributes has come in from friends, family and customers who he served as a supervisor at the Co-op Food Store in Dibdale Road in Dudley, where he worked for 13 years.

Yesterday, an inquest was opened into the death of Mr Steventon, a former Ellowes Hall Sport College pupil who lived in Park House Gardens in Lower Gornal. The hearing was told he had suffered a suspected cardiac arrest.

Mr Steventon lived with his mother Tracey Steventon, aged 52. Today she spoke of her shock and said she was unaware of her son suffering any heart problems. She said: "Everybody loved him – he was such a lovely, lovely lad. He always knew how to cheer someone up. He will be missed so badly by us all. We are all in shock."

The family said Mr Steventon had been at work on Sunday before visiting Miss Bayliss' home in Ellowes Road, where they stayed up talking into the night.

In the morning, Miss Bayliss left Mr Steventon to make a call, but when she returned twenty minutes later he was unresponsive.

Mr Steventon's cousin Sharon Buxton, aged 33, said: "They were talking as normal, but when she went away for 20 minutes, she came back to find him on the floor. No-one can believe it.

Mr Steventon had two sisters, Kerry-Anne, aged 26, and Paris, 12. Kerry-Anne said: "I don't think anyone in the family is coping at the moment, it still feels so raw."

A Facebook page has been set up in his memory. In Loving Memory Of Richard Steventon already has 229 members.

Among the people to leave tributes on the page was Simon Tonks. He said: "My deepest and heart felt condolences go out to Tracey, Kerry- Anne, Paris and the rest of Richard's very big and extended family.

"Rip matey I will remember and cherish the fun times we had over the years I knew you

"Such a tragic loss for everyone to lose you so young, I know that you will be deeply missed."

The inquest at Smethwick Coroner's Court was opened and then adjourned for further reports. A full inquest will be held at a later date.

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