Sudden death of young Corby dad prompts fundraising drive

Cole Porter, who was just 29, died while riding his bike home following a night with friends two weeks ago.

The former Lodge Park pupil lived with his son Ryan, aged two.

But on Saturday, September 9, he had been playing pool and watching the England football game on TV with his pal Andy Hart at Andy’s home in Studfall Avenue.

At about 10pm he got on his bike to ride home but was found shortly after near Abington Park, still on his bike, but unconscious and leaning against a wall.

Paramedics tried to revive him for an hour and then he was taken to Kettering General Hospital where doctors battled for three hours to save his life.

A post-mortem examination showed Cole had high cholesterol levels in his heart but had otherwise been healthy.

Andy, who had been best pals with Cole since the pair went to Lodge Park together, said: “Cole had been through a lot in his life.

“Most recently he had been given sole custody of his son.

“He changed his life around to give his son a good chance.

“He had turned to alcohol and drugs in his 20s but then he turned things around and didn’t touch anything.

“It’s so sad because his son was due to start nursery on the Monday after he died so he missed his first day.”

Ryan is now being looked after by family.

Andy said friends are struggling to understand Cole’s sudden death.

“He was otherwise fit and healthy,” said Andy.

“There was nothing at all visibly wrong.

“We can’t believe it’s happened so suddenly.”

Cole’s family now has to try to find about £6,000 for Cole’s funeral, which takes place today.

“We’ve decided that we’re going to throw ourselves into fundraising to help them out,” said Andy.

“I’m just going to try the best I can.”

Friends of Cole, who was a massive Liverpool FC fan, have already held a charity football game at S&L FC in his honour and have so far raised £1,760 on a crowdfunding page.

There will be a pool tournament to help raise more this Saturday, September 29, at Breakers Bar in St James’s Road, Corby from 12noon.

You can donate here. Any funds left over from the funeral will go to help Cole’s son Ryan.

There will be a wake after today’s (Tuesday, September 25) family funeral at the Viking Club on Corby’s Danesholme estate from 3pm. Anyone who wants to pay their respects to Cole is welcome to come.