Football-mad dad dies after collapsing in gym as heartbroken family pay tribute

A FOOTIE-mad dad has died after he collapsed in a gym, with his heartbroken family paying tribute.

Tim Sells, 47, was a coach at Whiststable Town FC and Tankerton, looking after the youngsters.

2 The family of Tim Sells has paid tribute to the dad after he suffered a cardiac arrest and died Credit: GOFUNDME

He suffered a cardiac arrest while doing a work out at Snap Fitness in Herne Bay, Kent .

Tim was rushed to the QEQM Hospital in Margate but he never regained consciousness and died three days later with his family at his bedside.

His death has also hit the local football community across the county where he was respected for his coaching skills and knowledge, KentOnline reports.

He also worked as a football development manager for Millwall FC Community Trust.

Tim, also known as “Sellsy” lived in Herne Bay along with his long-term partner Lisa Goodger and their children Cody, 13, and Demi, 10.

Tim and Lisa had been together for 15 years and got engaged on her 50th birthday, in May last year.

Paying tribute, a heartbroken Lisa said the family had been left in “unimaginable shock”.

She said: “The first we knew that anything was wrong was when a policeman arrived at our home in Talmead Road and said Tim had been rushed to hospital after collapsing at the gym.

“We expected to find him recovering, so it was an unimaginable shock to be told that he had suffered brain damage.”

Lisa added that doctors feared he would not regain consciousness and he died on August 20, surrounded by his family at his bedside.

The mum-of-two said: “One minute he was with us and the next he was gone.

“It was a horrific ordeal, which we are still struggling to come to terms with.”

Tim was brought up in Whitstable and went to St Anselm’s School in Canterbury.

He later attended the University of East London where he studied for a business degree.

His passion though was football and turned it into a job with roles at Gillingham, Crystal Palace and Millwall FC.

The club said it was “devastated” by Tim’s death

Community Trust CEO Sean Daly said: “Tim played a pivotal role in expanding the department into the leading sports provider across Lewisham and Southwark.

“His unwavering passion for nurturing both players and people shone through in every aspect of his work.”

Mr Daly added: “We are all devastated by the sudden loss of our friend and colleague.

“His kind-hearted nature touched everything he did. He was driven by a genuine desire to help others and make a positive impact.

“Regardless of background or circumstance, Tim always looked for ways to support others in reaching their goals.

"His warmth, generosity, and spirit will never be forgotten. He will be profoundly missed.”

During a radio interview in 2023, Tim said: “I see first-hand the impact our work has on the kids in the local community. I feel very blessed to do this role.

Tim, a QPR fan, met Lisa at the Monument pub in Canterbury, where she worked part-time behind the bar while he played for the pub team.

Lisa said: “He was kind, funny and a little quirky and we just hit it off. There wasn’t a bad bone in him.

“If he wasn’t coaching, playing or watching football, he was talking about it.”

2 Tim died in hospital, surrounded by his family Credit: Facebook