Beloved dad-of-two, 51, is crushed to death in tragic work accident leaving behind heartbroken family
THE heartbroken family of a dad-of-two crushed to death in a tragic work accident is battling to come to grips with their devastating loss.
Steve Jeffrey, 51, left Kent to head to work in London one day and never came home.
The football-loving dad is said to have died after being trapped underneath machinery last month, but his family say they’re yet to get any answers.
Steve was “always smiling, always laughing” and leaves behind his partner Andrea, son Kai and daughter Amy.
The 51-year-old’s pal Ben Smoke has now paid tribute to his “larger than life” mate.
Ben told the Mirror: “He was bubbly, and with that he was really thoughtful and really caring.
“He was always checking on people, if he knew something was going on in your life he would always be the first person to ask you about it.”
Ben and Steve met as their sons play for Ebbsfleet United 19s, and became close mates as a result.
The 41-year-old said: “He always did so much to help there, he would run the line, he would set up the camera – I can’t bare myself to bring it to games anymore.”
Ben was on holiday in Portugal when he looked his phone and saw a message from Steve’s partner Andrea.
He recalled: “I walked away from my family and called her and she said to me there’s been a terrible accident.
“In my head I went ‘oh her son’s broken his leg’ but then she said it’s Steve, he’s gone … it’s an accident at work, no one’s telling me anything.”
He said Steve’s family were now not only having to deal with the loss of him, but battling the emotions of not knowing exactly what lead to his death.
Steve had worked for SAS Ltd for more than 20 years when tragedy struck.
When approached for comment the company said it didn’t know exactly what happened when he died.
Ben said: “We haven’t been given the details still, no one’s contacted the family still.
“The only information that we’ve got is from the coroner in terms of the cause of death it was cardiac arrest in terms of impact.
“Some of the reports around it were quite horrific for Andrea … it took SAS a week for them to call Andrea personally and say we’re not allowed to talk to you.
“Even if they can’t give any information, a bit of decency to put someone’s mind at rest.”
The pal said it made losing Steve so much harder, adding: “His bubbly kind-hearted nature and caring personality touched so many
“He would do anything for anyone and would put them unselfishly before his own needs.”
Ben has now started a GoFundMe to try help Steve’s grieving family with funeral costs.