By Patrick LowmanA HEATRBROKEN family has paid tribute to a man who died suddenly following a long battle against depression.The family of Sheldon Andrews, 33, has now urged anyone who suffers from the illness to seek immediate professional help.

By Patrick Lowman

A HEATRBROKEN family has paid tribute to a man who died suddenly following a long battle against depression.

The family of Sheldon Andrews, 33, has now urged anyone who suffers from the illness to seek immediate professional help.

Mr Andrews, who lived with his father Gary and younger brother Bradley, 27, in Mallard Way, Great Cornard, was taken to the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds on September 10, suffering from a suspected stomach ulcer, but died the following day.

His distraught mother, Lynn Andrews, and sister, Janine Hicks, paid tribute yesterday to Mr Sheldon, whom they described as “funny, popular and much-loved.”

Mrs Andrews, who lives with her son's stepfather Terry Andrews in Long Melford, said: “Sheldon was always very popular and very much-loved by everyone who knew him. He was just very insecure and didn't realise how much people cared for him.

“His depression started in his teenage years, but we just didn't realise how bad it was. Depression is an illness that you can't just shrug off, people do not realise how serious it is.

“Anyone who feels they may be depressed should get medical help straight away. It is such a waste, Sheldon was bright, popular and creative. We will miss him so much, there will always be something missing.”

Mr Andrews grew up in Great Cornard and attended the village's primary middle and upper schools.

After leaving school, he studied the antiques trade on a youth training scheme and he worked until a year ago with his brother-in-law, Mark Hicks, and the Sudbury-based picture frame specialists, Private View.

In his younger days Mr Andrews also played football for Cornard Spartans and was an avid Liverpool fan.

His sister Janine, 34, who lives in Friars Street, Sudbury, said: “Sheldon was very close to all his family and loved them all very much. He was kind-hearted and would do anything for his friends.

“He had an excellent sense of humour and did funny impressions of people. He was creative and ambitious, but his depression prevented him from doing what he wanted to achieve. We are all devastated.”

The family said Mr Andrews had been trying to put his life back together shortly before his death and had been planning to go on a plumbing training course.

His funeral will be held at St Andrew's Church, Great Cornard, at 2.30pm today.

patrick.lowman@eadt.co.uk