IPSWICH: A man who gave his time to help others in need. That is the fond memory of a grieving cousin who today told of his shock at the sudden death of Gary Deaves.

The father-of-two was killed after an accident at work.

Mr Deaves, 48, of Churchill Avenue, died at Ipswich Hospital on May 9, six weeks after he sustained severe head injuries when a tyre exploded at Ipswich docks.

On Tuesday, friends joined Mr Deaves’ widow, Dawn, and the couple’s two children, Chris, 20, and 15-year-old Jennifer at Ipswich Crematorium for the mechanical engineer’s funeral.

But unable to attend the service, Allyson Brown, Mr Deaves’ cousin, paid her own tribute from across the Atlantic in Canada.

Recalling the first time the pair met as teenagers when she visited England, she said: “I am in Canada wearing a special necklace.

“The first time I met my cousin, I was a 14-year-old visiting from Canada.

“He saw me struggling to untangle a necklace that was horribly tangled.

“He asked to see it and patiently and carefully untangled the fine chain of my Wedgwood necklace.

“I was impressed. Most 19-year-old boys would not be bothered with younger girl cousins, let alone necklaces.

“My father who was a farmer passed away last June.

“Gary felt very badly that he couldn’t be with us last summer to help out on the family farm. He was planning to come over to Canada this summer on his vacation to help out.

“Two years ago he installed a sidewalk to assist in my father’s mobility when he was partially confined to a wheelchair.

“Actions speak volumes. Gary gladly and willingly gave up his vacation time to help others in need.”

Enquiries are today continuing into Mr Deaves’ death as investigators try to piece together the moments leading up to the tragedy.

Health and safety executives are working with the mechanical engineer’s employers, Associated British Ports (ABP), to establish what happened when a tyre exploded in a workshop at Cliff Quay on March 30.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said investigations into fatal accidents can take “some time”.

The inquest into Mr Deaves’ death was opened and adjourned by Greater Suffolk coroner Dr Peter Dean on Thursday, May 13.

n If you would like to pay tribute to Gary Deaves, write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN. Alternatively, e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk