A pensioner, who went into cardiac arrest and died after discovering his house had been burgled, has been named locally as Stanley Amarasinghe.

Neighbours said the married father-of-three was taken ill after returning to his home, in Beckford Road, Woodside, with his children to discover it had been ransacked by thieves.

The thieves are understood to have taken family jewellery in the break-in at the 67-year-old's home.

Joanne Evans, 25, a neighbour and friend of the family, said his three sons knocked on her door when they found out they had been burgled.

She said they had then returned to tell her their dad had collapsed and she went to try and help.

Mrs Evans said the boys helped her move their father onto the floor so they could lie him down.

The paramedics arrived a short time later and despite 45 minutes of CPR, Mr Amarasinghe could not be revived. He later died in hospital.

Burglary victim had a heart condition

Mrs Evans said Mr Amarasinghe had a heart condition and had received a heart bypass last year.

She added that she once seen burglars trying to break into the family’s house.

Mrs Evans said: “His wife is distraught about it, she is in bits. He was her best friend and soul mate”

“The boys were so distraught. I was hugging them as they were so upset.

“The whole house was trashed. They had broken through the back door and just trashed it.

"They had pulled everything out of the cupboards, everything from underneath the stairs. They ransacked the whole place.

She added: “He was lovely man. He was so caring. My daughter always got on well with him. He always had a kind word to say.

"Very well loved" Stanley "always helped people"

“He was always smiling. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. They are a lovely family.

“He has lent me baking tins in the past as I love baking and whenever they had a party he would come round and give us some extra food.

"He was very well loved and he was caring and neighbourly.”

Another family friend who did not want to be named, said: “Stanley was a wonderful man, he was very nice and just a genuinely wonderful guy. He always helped people, it is very sad.

“I saw inside the door of his house and they [the thieves] had taken everything, his home was ripped to pieces.

"As soon as he saw that he had a massive heart attack.

“The ambulance were called and they tried their best, but they couldn’t save him. Why would you do that to someone’s home?”

No arrests have been made and inquiries continue.

Anyone with information should call Detective Sergeant Parker on 0203 276 2179 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

 

Did you know Mr Amarasinghe and would like to leave your tributes? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6352 or email abloss@london.newsquest.co.uk.