The family of former dock worker, Les Cox who died while on holiday in Majorca have been overwhelmed by the support they have received from his many friends.

Les, along with his wife Kathleen and daughter Becky, had arrived in the Spanish resort of Muro, on the north of the island, on September 10, but tragedy struck only four days later when the 66-year-old was taken ill and died in hospital only 90 minutes later.

While Kathleen and Becky returned home three days later, Les was not brought home to Cornwall until last Wednesday. The family are now waiting to hear when his funeral service can be held while still coming to terms with their loss.

“He had not been well for ages, he had COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), but he was OK to go on holiday and said he was fine,” said Kathleen, who had been married to Les for 45 years.

“We went to Majorca which was his favourite island where we had been seven or eight times before and he wanted to get a hotel on the beach which we managed to do. He had been having a great time and had been swimming and enjoyed a beer.

“He was taken bad at 6am so we called the doctor and he was taken to hospital at 7am and died at 7.30am. It was all so out of the blue.”

Kathleen and Becky were then faced with the nightmare of being overcome with grief while having to sort out the practicalities of dealing with Les’ death. “The language barrier was the worst thing and it was a weekend which didn’t help,” said Kathleen. “The help we had from (tour operator) Thomson was fantastic and our young rep couldn’t do enough.”

Although Les had died on the Saturday, the family did not get the all-clear to bring him home from the coroner until the following Friday after it had been declared he had died from respiratory failure.

Now that he is finally back home, Les’ family are desperate to lay him to rest, but are still waiting to learn when this can take place. The funeral service will be held at Penwerris Church and be followed by burial at Falmouth cemetery.

Les and Kathleen have three children, Mark, Paul and Becky, and five grandchildren, Thomas, 20, Jake, 16; Amelia, seven; Spencer, three and nine-month-old Freddie. Les is also survived by his brothers, Tony and Kenny.

As a 16-year-old Les had started a five year apprenticeship as a mason and went on to work with local firms before going self-employed and teaming up with elder brother, Tony. He later worked as a fisherman and down the mines at Wheal Jane before starting in the heavy lift gang at Falmouth Docks in 1986. He remained there until he took early retirement on health grounds just over two-years-ago.

Speaking from her home on Lowenek Close this week, Kathleen said: “I want to thank everybody for their cards and support. I have had so many messages – I didn’t know he was so well liked. He always said what he thought.”

Pic of Les Cox on a previous holiday abroad and also one of him with wife Kathleen.