Charlie died after having a fit at the weekend (Picture: Plymouth Live/BPM Media
Tributes have been paid to a young dad of three who died suddenly after having an epileptic seizure.
Charlie Rice, 22, died last weekend in Plymouth after suffering a fit at home.
He leaves behind three young children, a daughter, a son and a stepson.
His family are now raising funds for his funeral and have said they are ‘overwhelmed’ from the support they have received.
Nearly £2,000 has been raised from a GoFundMe page.
Family friend Kelly Sandercock who set up the page said Charlie was ‘immensely’ loved by his family, and had an especially close bond with his brother Ross.
Dad-of-three Charlie was ‘immensely loved’ his family have said (Picture: Plymouth Live/BPM Media)
She told Plymouth Live: ‘Charlie was part of an extremely close-knit family, with immense love between Charlie and his brother and only sibling, Ross.
‘I could not even bear to imagine the pain the family is going through, as a mother myself. Obviously no parent is prepared for the death of a child.’
Kelly, 43, had known Charlie for many years, as he was a ‘lifelong friend’ to her 22-year-old son, Tyler. She said: ‘Being the same age they’ve been so close since they were children. My son’s autistic and Charlie was the only friend who really understood him.
‘Tyler only saw Charlie a couple days before his death. All my kids knew Charlie. For them in particular, especially Tyler, this is such a heart-breaking time.
‘I’m grieving too but I’m also just trying to be there for my children.’
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Any funds leftover from GoFundMe will be used to make memory bears for the children that were close to Charlie.
Other money will also go to Derriford Hospital’s Neurology Department.
Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition that affects the central nervous system.
Charity Epilepsy Action, states that around 1 in every 100 people in the UK currently have epilepsy. The condition can affect any age group.
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Charlie Rice died after suffering from an epileptic seizure at the weekend.Â
