TRIBUTES have been paid to a firefighter and popular dance dad who died suddenly at home.

Ben LeFevre, of Dovercourt, fell ill at home last Wednesday evening while getting ready to be on-call for the town's fire station.

His partner Lindsey Chaseley said paramedics did all they could to save the father of three and said the family has been left heartbroken by his loss.

She added: "Everyone is devastated.

"He was a hard-worker and every job he did he was the best at, whether that was Comet or insurance or the job centre.

"He had to be the best at everything.

"He didn't stop, he was always doing something and he did so much for the girls.

"I'll never forgive him for leaving me, we are all heartbroken."

Lindsey, who had been best friends with Ben since they were at school together in Eastbourne, praised the ambulance service.

She said: "He wasn't ill, he'd just passed a big medical at the fire station.

"He said his chest hurt.

"I called the ambulance and they were here within minutes.

"The first responder was amazing. We couldn't fault what they did for him."

Ben had applied to be an on-call firefighter in October and had been in training, only starting his call outs in March.

A funeral is being arranged with hopes the congregation will all wear blue and Chelsea FC shirts as he was a big supporter.

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help Ben's family with funeral costs and day-to-day bills.

A Facebook post on Dovercourt Fire Station's page said: "Last week we received the tragic news that one of our on-call firefighters had suddenly died at home.

"Ben LeFevre joined our station earlier this year after working to achieve his dream of becoming a firefighter.

"He also worked at Dovercourt Job Centre and was a big part of our community.

"Ben leaves behind his lifelong partner Lindsey and three young daughters, and at 35 years old, he was in no way ready to leave his family."

To donate visit gofundme.com/f/support-for-ben-lefevres-family.