THE family of a man who died after having a heart attack while he was on a run have expressed their gratitude to kind-hearted passers-by who stopped to try and save him.

Prolific marathon runner Phil Diggle, 54, left his home on Crosby Road in Smithills last Tuesday at around 1.30pm for a jog but was found collapsed on Victoria Road soon after.

Two off-duty nurses were among a number of people who tried to resuscitate him, with CPR being performed while paramedics were on their way.

He was taken to hospital but died a short time later.

Phil leaves behind his wife Sue, 54 and two daughters Pippa, 24, and Lucy, 21.

The Bolton News:

Phil with his wife Sue and daughters Lucy, left, and Pippa, right

Following his death, Phil’s family were informed about the efforts that went in to try and save him.

Lucy said: “We were told that there were lots of people that stopped to help my dad, including two off-duty nurses that did CPR until the paramedics arrived.

“We are eternally grateful for them giving their best effort and helping him.

“It is a comfort to know our dad wasn’t alone and he was surrounded by people who cared.”

Phil worked as an after-sales consultant in the motoring industry, a role in which he trained staff in car dealerships about their IT systems. His job also took him abroad.

Running was a big passion for him and he ran a number of marathons during his life, including several London Marathons and he completed the Manchester Marathon too.

In 2017, he also conquered the gruelling Bolton Ironman event.

Sue said: “Phil was funny and had a dry sense of humour.

“He was caring and would help anybody and was a very good handyman.

"He was very well liked at work. He had the nickname of 'Captain' at work and we called him that too.

“It is comforting that Phil was not on his own when he died.”

Phil’s younger sister Anne Marie also asked him and Sue to be surrogate grandparents to her daughter Kayleigh, now three, whom he loved.

After being shown the point where Phil was found collapsed, his loved ones have created a memorial for him, which also includes photographs.

They even brought along a beer with a plastic cup.

Pippa added: “He was the best dad you could wish for, he was my hero. He did so much and was always teaching us about life.

“He was our rock and he did everything for us.”