Fitness fan killed by cancer at 25

A fitness fanatic described as a "Del Boy character" has died from liver cancer aged 25, weeks after his father suffered a fatal heart attack.

Paul Hartill, who was nicknamed Pauly Goldchain because of the solid chain he always wore, had received treatment at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, about a month before his death on March 13. Six weeks earlier, his father Tony died from a massive heart attack at the age of 49.

The popular window cleaner had been complaining of stomach pains for some time and collapsed the day after his father's funeral.

His mother Kath, 45, from Brookfield Way Tipton, said her husband and son, who had worked together for eight years at Stetchworks in Brierley Hill, were very close.

"Paul took it really badly when his dad died, because they were great buddies," she said.

"I was really proud of Paul when he wrote a tribute for his dad and read it at the funeral. After my husband died, Paul was a great support, sorting everything out. He was my rock but when he was in hospital, he said 'Mom, your rock is crumbling'."

Teenage brother Tony said Mr Hartill was a fan of the sitcom Only Fools and Horses and saw himself as a bit of a wheeler dealer.

The 13-year-old said: "Paul loved that programme and was like another Del Boy. If his family or friends ever wanted anything, he would always try and get it for them. He was always playing practical jokes and made everyone laugh.

"My brother was mad about his car – a Mitsubishi Evolution – and if it was dirty, he would get me to clean it and then inspect it and tell me I had missed a bit."

Mr Hartill, a former student at Alexandra High School, Tipton, lived with his girlfriend Sarah Jones, 31, in Brooklands, Wordsley.

Miss Jones said she took advantage of Leap Year to propose to her partner in hospital, and the two had planned to wed as soon as he was discharged.

The funeral service will be held on March 26 at 1.30pm at St Mark's Church in Ocker Hill, Tipton.

One of Mr Hartill's favourite songs, Fast Car, by Tracy Chapman, will be played during the service.