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TRAGEDY: Sarah McManus with Anya, 2, and Theo, 18 months
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Dad in burglary heart attack
Adam Derbyshire19/12/2007
A DEVOTED young dad suffered a massive heart attack and died after the stress of being burgled.
Matthew Garbett, 31, collapsed on the stairs with chest pains in front of partner Sarah McManus.
Paramedics took him to hospital where doctors performed open heart surgery in a desperate bid to repair a ruptured aorta.
The dad-of-two clung on for almost a week but lost his fight for life on 8 December.
Matthew, of Lake View, Stalybridge worked away in Germany during the week spray-painting aircraft and came home at weekends.
The couple’s home was burgled while Sarah was upstairs putting the children to bed.
Matthew’s family say the stress triggered the tragic turn of events and want the thieves caught and charged with manslaughter.
Sarah, 33, a midwife, said: "It’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from. I feel numb.
"I keep expecting him to walk in through the front door. But I know deep down he won’t.
"My daughter asks where he is. I just have to tell her he’s gone to sleep and won’t wake up.
"We’re all totally devastated and our two kids are left without a dad this Christmas."
Matthew’s brother Richard, 34, said: "He was my best friend and loved his family to bits. He lit up every room he was in."
The couple, who had been together nine years, were looking forward to getting married next summer.
Sarah had let golden retriever Harvey into the back garden while she put children Anya, two and five-month-old Theo to bed on 27 November at 7.30pm.
The house backs on to Chadwick Dam, Stamford Park, and it is believed two men had been watching the home.
They clambered over the back fence, distracted the dog and burst in through the back door.
The pair stole Sarah’s handbag and mobile phone before snatching the keys to her green Subaru Impreza and escaping through the front door.
Hearing noises from upstairs, Sarah ran to the front window to see them drive off at speed.
She said: "The handbag contained a gold chain that Matthew gave me, which is so sentimental to me considering what’s happened.
"These thieves won’t realise the trail of heartbreak and devastation they left behind — until now."
Anyone with information about the burglary or the whereabouts of the Subaru — registration P419 XNW — is asked to call police on 856 9241.
Mathew’s funeral is today (Thursday).
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22/12/2007 at 18:08