Tributes flood in for radio DJ who died of a 'heart attack' on air

2022-10-25

‘Diamond’ DJ ‘collapsed on his mixing decks in his garden studio’: Tributes flood in for local radio breakfast show host, 55, who died of a ‘heart attack’ while playing Madness hit to listeners

GenX Radio Suffolk host Tim Gough, 55, died whilst presenting show at home
Family have been ‘reassured and comforted to see the amount of love’ for him
It’s believed he may have collapsed onto his mixing desk, pausing the music
There was around a two minute silence where the show went completely silent
His boss called police after he could not get through to him when music stopped

The boss of a ‘diamond’ radio DJ who died of a suspected heart attack on air pledged to make the station his ‘legacy’, and vowed: ‘I will not allow his hard work to amount to nothing’.

Tim Gough, 55, was presenting his breakfast programme for GenX Radio Suffolk from his garden studio when around an hour in, the music abruptly stopped playing half way through a song, prompting concerned colleagues to call on emergency services to investigate.

The music resumed a few minutes later but Mr Gough, who had been speaking just moments earlier, did not return and later the station confirmed he had passed away from a suspected heart attack.

He is believed to collapsed onto his mixing desk and in turn landed on a button which stopped the music.

James Hazell, owner of the station, said: ‘You may have heard me say, in an emotional state, that I was not sure about the future of GenX in light of the devastating news of Tim’s death. Well I am now… because of the hundreds of loving messages.

‘Tim was part of building GenX Radio and I will not allow his hard work to amount to nothing.

‘We are going to create the best radio station we possibly can, that Suffolk is proud of. It will be Tim’s legacy.’

Mr Hazell said that all of the presenters operate from remote studios, including Mr Gough, who was presenting his show from his home in Lackford, Suffolk.

He had wished his listeners good morning and given the weather report before playing his last track ‘Grey Day’ by Madness.

Mr Gough leaves behind a 24-year-old son, Isaac, as tributes flooded in for the ‘totally professional presenter’.

Tim Gough (pictured), 55, was presenting his breakfast show for GenX Radio Suffolk when the music stopped playing half way through a song. Radio bosses believe he may have collapsed onto his mixing decks, causing the music to stop

On social media, one friend described Mr Gough as ‘a diamond of a man’ while another said ‘we’ve lost a gem’

James Hazell (pictured) pledged to make the station his ‘legacy’, and vowed: ‘I will not allow his hard work to amount to nothing’

‘He was in there and he was sounding absolutely fine as usual and full of energy,’ Mr Hazell said.

‘Of course, several of us were listening and it suddenly stopped during the song.’

On social media, one friend described Mr Gough as ‘a diamond of a man’ while another said ‘we’ve lost a gem’.

Mr Hazell, who resumed the music via a back-up service after around a two minute pause, had tried to call Mr Gough up to check on his well-being as he became increasingly concerned due to the fact they are usually in constant communication.

After about ten minutes of not hearing from Mr Gough, the radio boss asked his wife to call the police as he truly believed something had gone wrong.

Mr Hazell had also been able to get hold of the host’s sister who arrived at a similar time to the house as police.

But his fears came to light as officers rushed to the scene and called in paramedics who attempted to revive Mr Gough for around 25 minutes but to no avail.

Mr Hazell said he was shocked at the death of a man who had ‘no existing health conditions’ and was an ‘active guy’ and a ‘dog walker’. ‘It was just a catastrophic cardiac event,’ he added.

GenX Radio Suffolk posted on their social media accounts: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to inform you, our dear friend and breakfast host Tim Gough passed away this morning whilst presenting his program.

‘Our love to his family, son, sister, brother and mum.

‘Tim was doing what he loved. He was 55 years old.’

Mr Gough’s family have been ‘reassured and comforted to see the amount of love there has been out there’

The host, whose radio career dated back to 1986, had had told listeners he was excited for the radio station to launch on DAB in a week.

Just minutes before the music stopped abruptly, he was talking about famous couples who have married in Bury, Suffolk, over the years.

The father-of-one spoke his final words after playing Brown Sugar by the Rolling Stones, commenting that it was the birthday of bass guitarist Bill Wyman, a Suffolk resident.

Mr Hazell was on air from 9am and shortly before 11am he informed listeners of the ‘devastating blow’.

He said: ‘I speak to you this morning with frankly some tragic tragic news.

‘At ten to eight this morning in the middle of Tim Cough’s breakfast show broadcast, he suffered a catastrophic cardiac episode – as it has been described.

‘Despite the best efforts of the paramedics, who were on site very quickly, some 20 25 minutes doing what they could to revive to – it was not to be.

‘It was in the middle of his program, he was doing something he loved to do.

He added: ‘I really have no words at this stage, he was 55-years-old, very healthy. Who knows why these things happened, but its happened.’

His profile on the radio’s website says: ‘Tim is Suffolk born and bred, and grew up in a village close to Bury St Edmunds.

‘His radio career has spanned over a quarter of a century, and began at Radio Orwell in 1986.

‘He went on to present the breakfast show on Saxon Radio and SGR-FM, as well as appearing on Smooth Radio and various other radio stations in the East Midlands.

It added that the breakfast show on GenX Radio Suffolk was the first time Mr Gough got back behind the microphone in over a decade.

Condolences and tributes quickly poured in from fans of the local radio, which launched in January this year, following the sad announcement.

Linda wrote on Facebook: ‘Such sad news. It was so nice to hear his cheerful voice first thing in the mornings.’

Kelly-Anne tweeted: ‘My darling friend. Doing what he loved doing but I can’t comprehend the loss.’

Jason King said he was ‘heartbroken’. He added: ‘A phone call just after midday confirmed the news that none of us could have expected, Tim Gough is no longer with us.

‘A beautiful human, gentleman and father. Sleep well my friend, it’s been a privilege to call you a friend.’

And Neil Kefford said: ‘I cannot tell you the shock and loss I feel at the passing of Tim Gough today. He was a key part of my radio life, and social life, besides. Saying he was a ‘nice bloke’, doesn’t cover it. To say I’ll miss him, doesn’t cover it.’

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