A father-of-two from a well-known Lochaber family died suddenly from a “ticking timebomb” aneurysm after a day out with his wife and children.
Ian Allan Forsyth, 42, suffered a thoracic aortic aneurysm after a trip to the Black Isle with spouse Caroline, daughter Emily, 15, and 13-year-old son Craig.
Medical literature states there are seldom any symptoms or warnings before the bursting of the main heart artery.
It is a condition sometimes described as a person unknowingly carrying a “ticking time-bomb” in their body.
For two generations, the Forsyth family owned the upmarket Letterfindlay Lodge Hotel overlooking Loch Lochy, near Spean Bridge.
And it was at the hotel – then run by Mr Foryth’s parents, Ian and Valerie Forsyth – that romance first blossomed for the tragic husband and dad-to-be.
Caroline and her parents travelled up from England each summer to holiday at the Inverness-shire hotel.
The widow said yesterday: “We first met when we were four years old. We were always friends but when we were 18 we started going out together.”
Talking of the fateful day last week, Caroline, a learning co-ordinator and trained nurse, added,’ We all went for a run in the car over to the Black Isle. It was a nice, pleasant afternoon out.
“When we got home we did stuff with the children’s pet rabbits in the back garden. Ian Allan seemed fine.
“Then we went inside and he sat down in his chair in the living-room and quite simply died suddenly there.
“It was so sudden and shocking.He had no history of ill-health.”
Caroline dialled 999 and an ambulance rushed Mr Forsyth to nearby Raigmore Hospital bfrom the ir home in Inverness’s Cook Drive, but staff there were unable to revive him.
For 12 years Mr Forsyth worked for Café Centro in Inverness’s Eastgate Centre and latterly was in charge of stock and food preparation for Centro and the firm’s other businesses in the shopping centre.
His boss Barry Larsen said: “He was just a nice big lad, really into his family. It is a great shame for them.”
Mr Forsyth also leaves a sister, Mary MacColl, in Roy Bridge, and younger brother Ross in Easter Ross.
A funeral service took place yesterday at Chisholms in Inverness and the burial takes place at 12.30 today at Blarour Cemetery, Spean Bridge.
Some relatives are travelling from abroad, including New Zealand, to mourn Mr Forsyth.