Retired bobby dies after heart attack

POPULAR figure . . . Phil Buckley

A RETIRED policeman who raised thousands for charity has died after spending weeks in a coma following a heart attack while cycling.

Grandad Phil Buckley (69), who suffered a heart attack during a bike ride in Oldham on September 11 and remained in a coma in Manchester Royal Infirmary, died on Wednesday morning.

As an officer he had worked closely with Oldham's Asian community and learned to speak some Urdu and Sylheti.

Trips

He was also a former racing cyclist who won a silver medal in the 1971 UK National Track Championships and raised thousands for charities, including the Just Help Foundation, through trips across Bangladesh on a mountain bike.

Phil's heart attack came as a shock to family and friends as he did not smoke or drink and was a devoted cyclist.

During his time in hospital he received many messages of support ­- some from people he had arrested who thanked him for steering them to the right track.

Writing on Facebook on Wednesday, Phil's son Chris said: "Today was the day I never wanted to face. With all his close family beside him, my dad passed away earlier this morning.

"This has been the most upsetting day of my life, but I've got memories to treasure forever."

His daughter-in-law, Helen, also paid tribute describing him as an inspirational man who adored his family.

The family, including Chris' mother Anne and daughters Lisa and Donna, visited Phil at Manchester Royal every day to read and play music to him.

Chris thanked the overwhelming support from people expressing their condolences.

He said: "It's all still very hard to take in. It only seems like yesterday he was walking around, cycling and living life to the full.

"We're overwhelmed and highly appreciate at the amount of sympathy and condolences being expressed by everyone. It shows he was loved by many. He will dearly be missed."