TRIBUTES have poured in for a doting father who died suddenly aged 26.
Lee Dolman, a catering student at Yale College in Wrexham, was found dead at his grandmother’s home in Flint.
A post-mortem examination was inconclusive but his mother and stepfather believe his death was accidental. They think he may have unwittingly overdosed on medication he took for schizophrenia.
Mr Dolman died just days before his daughter Ruby’s fifth birthday today.
He grew up in Flint and attended St Richard Gwyn High School in the town.
He later moved to Buckley but was staying with his grandmother Annette Dolman at Maes Gwyn, Flint.
She went upstairs to wake him on Sunday morning and found him dead in bed.
Mr Dolman was a regular at the Black Horse pub in Buckley and was an avid supporter of Liverpool.
His mother Denise Jones, of Tan-y-Bryn, Buckley, said: “He always lit up the room when he had had a drink. He had a cheeky grin.”
She and Mr Dolman’s stepfather, Shaun Jones, have found comfort in the dozens of heartfelt messages of condolence posted on Facebook.
Mrs Jones said: “I was so pleased he’s had so many messages. I find it comforting to know how many people care. I wish he could have seen it.”
But the couple do not believe Mr Dolman had committed suicide.
Her husband said: “He wouldn’t have done that to his daughter. He doted on her.”
Mrs Jones added: “The day before my mum found him he was in a good mood.
“He had just had Sky fitted in his bedroom and it’s his daughter’s birthday on Thursday so he was looking forward to that.
“He was on medication for schizophrenia so we think it was accidental.
“I think personally he’s accidentally taken too much medication.”
She added: “I am absolutely devastated. You don’t expect your son to go before you.
“I am still numb. It hasn’t sunk in.
“I love him to bits. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Mr Dolman’s sister Vicky, 21, said: “He was amazing, we both had each other’s backs.
“We had our arguments but we could always talk to each other.”
She said she would give anything to argue with him again and give him a big hug.
He was a wonderful uncle to her two-year-old daughter Darcy, she added.
Mr Dolman also leaves brothers Sam and Tony Jones, and half sisters Amy Hyndman, 18 and Millie Hyndman, 13.
As the post mortem examination was inconclusive the family is awaiting a report from a pathologist and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.
Mrs Jones said: “Ruby is going to miss him. We went to tell her he’s gone up to the stars.
“Every night before she goes to bed she looks at the stars and says goodnight to him.”
Mr Dolman will be buried in his Liverpool shirt and the club’s song You’ll Never Walk Alone will be played. Fellow Liverpool supporters can wear their shirts in memory of Mr Dolman. The funeral details are still to be confirmed.