Southampton: Dad's sudden death leaves family distraught

The family of Darren Moger are heartbroken at his tragic sudden death earlier this month when he was found dead in his flat on Ridding Close, Shirley.

The 41-year-old lived with his 84-year-old grandad at the flat and on July 15 he was found dead by a neighbour.

The cause of death was heart failure as a result of heart disease, an autopsy revealed.

Darren Moger's family [left to right]: Sister Melissa Moger, son and daughter, Brandon, 18, and Rhianna Moger, 20, and sister Claire Moger (Image: Newsquest)

The family, who are now looking to provide Darren the last opportunity for a dignified farewell, have set up a fundraiser to help with funeral costs.

The father of two’s youngest sister, Melissa Moger, 32, said the family feel heartbroken at the loss of their beloved Darren and say they have been left shocked.

"I couldn't believe it when I got the call, it just didn't make any sense," she said, fighting back tears.

She ran to see her brother and held his lifeless hand one last time.

'I just want my brother back'

She brought to mind the times the two siblings spent together.

She said: “I just want my brother back but I know I will never be able to see him again.

“Me and him, we used to have really long chats, we used to cuddle and spend time with one another. We will never be able to do that again.

“He never followed the crowd, he didn’t want to look like anybody else and that’s what we loved about him.”

His daughter, Rhianna Moger, 20, described her dad as 'unique'.

She said: “It has been really hard, I’m taking sleeping tablets and I still wake up in the middle of the night crying.

“Dad was crazy but in a good way. When I was little, he and I would go to the supermarket, and he would skip around the shop. People would look but he didn’t care.”

The two shared a love for wrestling and she added that it will be something she will always remember about him.

Long-time friend and former partner Karen Jackson, who saw Darren hours before his sudden death, said there was no explanation for what had happened.

Karen Jackson and her husband Danny Jackson (Image: Newsquest)

Karen said: “I can’t get my head around the fact that he was in my kitchen with me having a chat just hours before he was gone.

“There was nothing that happened to him that could lead us to imagine it would be the last time seeing him.

"He left and wished us a good weekend like a normal Friday, that was the last thing he told us before he walked out of the door.”

She added: “There is a grey dark cloud over us now. He was always present, he was always with us.

"I still walk past the door, and I imagine his silhouette on the other side of the door, only now it’s not really him.”