Tribute paid to elderly man found dead on beach

4:49pm Monday 21st July 2008

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TRIBUTE has been paid to an elderly man whose body was found washed up on a beach.

Tracy Greenhalgh befriended homeless Roy Gaskell and was helping him turn his life around.

But the body of the 73-year-old, from Tonge Moor, was found floating just off the shoreline in Cleveleys two weeks ago.

For much of the time Mr Gaskell lived in a tent on the coast in and around the Fleetwood area.

Ms Greenhalgh, who lives in Wynne Street, Halliwell, said: “He was such a happy-go-lucky man. I was shocked to hear of his death.”

The 46-year-old helped Mr Gaskell clean himself up and was planning to buy him a suit shortly before he died.

She took “before and after” pictures when she had helped him to improve his appearance, hoping to make him realise that he should look after himself more.

Ms Greenhalgh met Mr Gaskell when she was visiting a friend in Blackburn Road, Bolton, who lived in a neighbouring bedsit.