A FORMER marine died after his savings were allegedly stolen from his home.

Great grandfather Henry Nicholas, died in hospital earlier this month, aged 93, after suffering a suspected heart attack.

His family believe the alleged theft — from his home in Catherine Street East, Horwich — caused him to fall ill.

Mr Nicholas’ daughter Audrey Foster discovered the money had allegedly gone missing in July when gathering his belongings together ahead of a planned stay in a rehabilitation unit.

Mrs Foster said: “He was a very proud man and said that he didn’t want to say anything because he felt foolish. He wouldn’t tell us exactly how much had gone.

“He was so upset about what had happened and then when he was transferred to the rehabilitation unit he just kept worrying about how we would pay for it.

“We told him not to worry but he couldn’t stop thinking about the money and it made him very unwell.

“The thing is he still had all his faculties and was always doing crosswords. He was remarkable for his age and a real gentleman.”

The alleged theft was reported to Greater Manchester Police on July 19.

Mr Nicholas — known as Harry — fell ill with breathing issues shorlty after his family discovered the alleged theft.

He was taken to hospital in Chorley where he stayed for two weeks — before being released and spending 10 days in a rehabilitation unit in Withins residential home.

But his health never recovered and on August 19 he was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital after suffering a suspected heart attack — he died on September 5.

Mrs Foster said that that during his first stay in hospital, her father said money had been going missing from his savings wallets for some time but did not say anything because he was embarrassed.

Mr Nicholas joined the Royal Marines during World War Two and was posted to locations including South Africa, Egypt and Gibraltar.

He lost his wife Irene in February this year.

The two had met on a blind date on New Year’s Eve in 1945.

After their first date, the two began courting and later married in Salford, where he originally came from.

In 1951 the couple settled in Horwich.

They had two children, Melvin and Audrey, as well as grandchildren Simon, Paul, Sarah and Daniel and great grandchildren, Jade, Luke and Mark.

Mr Nicholas was well known in the Horwich area after working in the foundry at the Horwich Loco Works.

GMP said the investigation into the alleged theft was ongoing. However, detectives are not linking the death of the 93-year old to the theft.

A spokesman said: “We were made aware of the incident on July 19 and investigations are still ongoing. No arrests have been made at this point.”