Tributes pour in for ‘fit and healthy’ football coach, 43, who collapsed on plane and died from deep vein thrombosis in his leg

• Matt Milne, 43, Whitstable, Kent, fell ill on plane from Singapore to Heathrow 

A ‘fit and healthy’ youth football coach died after collapsing and falling ill on a long-haul flight home.

Matt Milne, 43, of Whitstable, Kent, was on a 6,000-mile-long flight to London Heathrow following a work trip to Singapore when it is thought he suffered a deep vein blood clot in his leg.

Off-duty paramedics on board the flight rushed to his side and battled to save his life in front of distressed passengers, and the father-of-two was rushed to Hillingdon Hospital after the plane landed on the runway. 

His wife of 18 years, Fran, rushed to his bedside after police officers knocked on her door at 8am and told her he had fallen ill, but Mr Milne died before she arrived. 

Doctors think he died as result of a deep vein thrombosis in his leg which spread to his lung. 

Matt Milne, 43, of Whitstable, Kent, collapsed while on board a 6,000-mile flight from Singapore to Heathrow. Off-duty paramedics battled to save his life but he later died in hospital

The software engineer’s death has left Fran and their two children – Will, 13, and Annabel, 10 – completely devastated. 

Fran, who would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary today, told KentOnline he was an ‘amazing husband and dad’.

READ MORE: Beauty therapist, 31, dies from blood clot that she developed two months after twisting her knee at a friend’s house party 

‘He had never had any health problems and was reasonably fit, so it has come as a huge shock,’ she said. 

She added: ‘My heart is totally utterly broken and Will and Annabel are devastated.

‘We will all miss Matt every second of every day for the rest of our lives.

‘He had the biggest heart in the entire world and was loved so much by the three of us, his parents, all his family and his friends.’

Mr Milne was a popular coach at Whitstable Town’s under-14s side.

Tributes have since poured in for Mr Milne, with one friend saying:’Words can’t describe how much Matt is missed.

‘He had the biggest heart and he truly loved you all so much, that love will go on forever in all of our hearts.’

Another said: ‘Matt was an absolute legend – one of the nicest, funniest guys. I’ll miss him terribly.’

A former colleague said: ‘Matt was truly loved and respected by everyone who worked with him at SysMech and it was an honour to have called him a friend.’

The father-of-two was a coach at Whitstable Town FC’s under 14s side and tributes have since poured in describing him 

A tribute on Whitstable Town’s website read: ‘It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts that we inform you of the sudden and unexpected passing of Matt Milne on Saturday, September 30.

‘Matt was a beloved son, husband, father, and friend, and his loss has shocked us all. During this challenging time, our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Fran, and two children, Will and Annabel.

‘Matt played an integral role in the club’s operations, managing the under-14s team, which he led for several years across different age groups, as the club’s volunteer bar manager and our resident tech expert, among other responsibilities. He was always eager to assist anyone, and his warm smile was contagious.

‘Despite the long and often late board meetings, he was always supportive and patient, with Fran as a director and club secretary. Something that the partners and spouses of grassroots football directors and committee members can relate to and appreciate.

‘Matt’s passing is a tremendous loss to his loved ones, friends and colleagues, and he will be dearly missed.’

Following news of his death, his team cancelled a match they were due to play the following day.

On Sunday the girls’ team will hold a minute’s applause for him.

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