Fundraiser Appeal after ‘brilliant’ dad, 34, dies suddenly
ABRISTOL family has been left heartbroken after a young dad died suddenly while on holiday earlier this month.
Rob Channelle, from Southmead, was holidaying with his partner and his two young children in the Woolacombe area of Devon when he was found dead in his bed one morning.
His friend Keela Wachon has set up a fundraiser to support them and help them to cover Rob’s funeral costs, which has raised more than £3,000.
Keela spoke to the Post on behalf of his partner Nicole.
“Everything at the moment is just completely shattered for her,” she said.
Rob, 34, died on May 1. He was father to Theo, two, and 11-month-old Jacob.
Rob suffered from serious health difficulties, battling two cancers which left him blind due to complications from surgery.
He also suffered from an infection in his head as well as the cancer, which left him requiring more surgeries.
Keela says that since his death, 31-year-old Nicole, who Keela has known since childhood, has been struggling emotionally.
“It’s just one thing on top of another. Little things will just remind her.
“She tried to go to the children and babies group for the first time since, and she used to go everywhere with Rob, they were together 24/7. She had to go everywhere with him and do everything for him.”
Keela says that Rob was a “brilliant dad” and a “down-to-earth” person who has been sorely missed.
“You would always know that he was there, he had a big presence. Everyone knew about it if Rob was there, he was a brilliant bloke,” she added.
“He did as much as he could do for the boys. I think Nicole is also a fantastic mother, she’s amazing. I’ve got four kids myself and I don’t know how she has done it so well with the boys and done absolutely everything for Rob.
“And she doesn’t complain about it either, she just gets on. That was her life, it was his life. Their life was each other.”
Rob and Nicole were due to be married in December 2023, but because of his untimely death, Nicole has been struggling financially since his death as she is ineligible for bereavement support payments as an unmarried partner, despite being with Rob for 11 years.
And Keela said that Nicole is now fighting to get the “old fashioned, archaic” law changed to allow couples who aren’t married to get the payments.
“It’s just one more blow on top of everything. Not only has she got to worry about everything else, she’s also got to worry about (finances). Bereavement payments aren’t forever but it will slowly ease people into the new way their life is going to be.”
You can donate to the fundraiser at gofundme.com – search for “Keela Wachon”.
❝ You would always know that he was there, he had a big presence. Everyone knew about it if Rob was there, he was a brilliant bloke
Keela Wachon