9:40am Monday 17th August 2009
By Ben Perrin
HOURS before his fiancee was due to give birth to their baby, a 21-year-old Swindon man dropped dead by her side in hospital.
Dave Robertson, from Pembroke Park, in north east Swindon, had just visited the maternity unit at the Great Western Hospital on the morning his girlfriend Sharon was about to go into labour.
She had been induced when Swindon Town supporter Dave suddenly collapsed on the maternity unit ward on the second floor of the hospital.
Despite the best efforts of medical staff to resuscitate him Dave died later that day.
Sharon, who did not want to reveal her surname, gave birth to a baby boy, weighing just over 9lbs, about 10 hours after Dave had died. The tragedy took place on Friday, August 7.
A tribute page on the social networking website Facebook, entitled RIP Dave Robertson and which has more than 200 members, has just been set up.
On the site, Sharon, who on Dave’s profile says he is engaged to her, writes “can’t believe how much sam looks like u i love u so much.”
Last night Dave’s father Ken, speaking from his home in Priory Vale, paid tribute to a “gentle giant” of a son.
“Dave was very popular, outgoing, and had many circles of friends,” he said.
“He was a big lad, known as ‘Big Dave’, and had no health problems. He was very much a gentle giant.
“He was immensely excited about becoming a new dad, as was I at becoming a grandfather for the first time.
“Dave had bought toys and clothes for his baby and would talk about it every minute of the day.”
Dave was also acting as a father to a three-year-old son, who wasn’t his child biologically. He and Sharon had been together for just over three years.
Ken said Dave would travel all over the country to follow Swindon Town.
Players have signed a football shirt and given it to Sharon as a mark of respect.
“We are saddened to hear of the death of a big supporter,” said Swindon Town spokesman Chris Tanner.
“Our thoughts and best wishes are with the family after this tragic loss.”
Dave, who went to Haydonleigh Primary School, Nova Hreod and later Farmor’s School in Fairford, worked as a call centre operative for Vodafone, in Trowbridge.
His colleagues have created a memorial shine at his desk to ensure his memory is never forgotten.
Dave, who was also an American Football fan, supporting the New England Patriots, had a brother Stephen, 20 and sister Jessica, 17.
A post-mortem examination was carried out last week, according to the Swindon and Wiltshire Coroners office. The cause of death is still to be established.
Dave’s funeral will be held on Wednesday. His family have said he will be cremated in his beloved Swindon Town shirt.
They said they did not want to release the details of the funeral and that everyone who needed to know about the arrangements had already been informed.
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