TRIBUTES have been paid to Lee Cuthbertson after he died last night following a dramatic bid to save his life that saw builders flagging down a passing off-duty ambulance.

The 32-year-old was being driven by his brother to the Royal Berkshire Hospital when he decided to pull over to ask for help.

When builders at the Horncastle pub site in Calcot realised the seriousness of his condition they ran out on to the A4 Bath Road and flagged down a passing ambulance.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said today that his death was not beig treated as suspicious.

Family and friends of the Calcot handyman have taken to social media to pay their respects to Lee after he died suddenly.

Justin Cuthbertson said on Facebook:"Lost my biggest idol, my big bro. Rest in heaven bruv I'll never forget the good times, the bad, and the really good times. You really taught more than you know."

Charlotte Regan, another relative said on her page: "Words cannot begin to explain how I feel today, I am heart broken. I've lost my big brother. I am so proud of the man that you become Lee Cuthbertson and I will continue to look up to you every day as I have for the past 26 years."

A worker, who did not wish to be named, said he saw the two brothers came to the site at around 7pm last night.

He said: "A bloke ran in here and asked us for help. We phoned the ambulance for him.

“They were two brothers. At home one of them started throwing up blood. They chucked him in the car and got they got as far as here and that is when he asked us for help.

"His brother was driving him and he was in absolute pieces."

The worker said before the ambulance arrived they flagged down an off-duty private ambulance.

The worker added: “The hero of the day was the ambulance driver he did a terrific job.

“It was a private ambulance driver and he was on his way home and we stopped him and he administered first aid.

“They had a defibrillator on him that was not working."

Workers are currently on the site transforming the pub into a new pet shop.

Reading Chronicle:

  • The Horncastle Pub which is being turned into a pet shop where builders helped a seriously ill man yesterday

Hannah Williams, a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police, said: "The police were called to the Bath Road near the Horncastle pub at 7.12pm today (9/9) after a man was reported to be feeling unwell. He was taken to hospital but sadly later died.

"The death is being treated as unexplained but it is not believed to be suspicious.

"A file has been prepared for the coroner."

David Gallagher, a spokesperson for the South Central Ambulance Service, said: "The ambulance that was flagged down was an off duty ambulance and he was just passing at the time and obviously stopped.

"We got a call at 7.01pm to reports of a male collapsed on the road. We sent a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance and a helicopter sent out as well.

"The team worked on the guy at the scene. He was transported to the Royal Berkshire Hospital by ambulance over land and the helicopter doctor was in the back of the ambulance with him.

"It is suspected he died from a cardiac arrest."