Shock at sudden loss of ‘life and soul’
Daughters lead tributes to family man after loss of rugby player and ex-Army man
THE heartbroken young daughters of a Llanelli man have led tributes to their dad after his sudden death left a community in mourning.
Daryl O’Brien died after suffering a heart attack outside his Swiss Valley home, which he shared with his parents, Karen and Simon, and brother, Alex.
The 35-year-old had been due to start a new job as a health and safety assessor with SureSite. He also worked as a fitness instructor.
Daughters, Hollie and Tiegan said: “We are heartbroken and miss him so much. We loved going on days out with daddy and he loved taking us to the beach.”
THE heartbroken young daughters of a Llanelli man have led tributes to their father after his sudden death left a community in mourning.
Daryl O’Brien died on Monday after suffering a heart attack outside his Swiss Valley home, which he shared with his parents, Karen and Simon, and brother, Alex.
The 35-year-old had been due to start a new job as a health and safety assessor with SureSite. He also worked as a fitness instructor.
Mr O’Brien had served in the 22nd Regiment of the Royal Artillery Welsh Gunners for eight years as signaller, and had served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Cyprus. He was a devoted father to two daughters, Hollie O’Brien, 14, and Tiegan O’Brien, 12, who have revealed their plans to create a lasting memorial to him.
They wrote: “Our daddy Daryl O’Brien was taken from us too early on Monday, July 29. We are heartbroken and miss him so much. We loved going on days out with daddy and he loved taking us to the beach and being in the sea.
“We want somewhere we will be able to remember our dad and would like to have a memorial bench placed on the coastal path looking into the sea for him. We can then go there whenever we miss him to feel close to him. When we contacted the council it was expensive, so we decided to see if we can raise the money to pay for it. We will hold fundraisers also to put towards the cost. If we raise more than the cost of the bench we will be donating to those that have been chosen by our nana and grampa.”
Mr O’Brien’s aunt, Emma Charles, paying tribute on behalf of the family, said: “He was full of life and fun loving,” she said. “He was totally dedicated to his family, family meant the world to him. He was a proper family guy. He was the life and soul, he absolutely lit up the room and knew how to brighten our days. If he was here now he would be the one to get us through this.
“At Christmas we would meet on Boxing Day and he would be the king of the board games. He brightened up every room he walked into.
“At the moment, as a family, we’re just supporting each other and trying to get through it.”
Ms Charles said her nephew was proud of his Army days, adding it “meant the world to him.”
“He kept so many bits of memorabilia and had two albums full of photographs,” she said.
“He was really proud of being Welsh and used to toot the horn every time he used to come to Wales.”
And he also had a love of sport.
“Rugby was also huge to him, he was always singing at rugby games and really enjoyed the recent Six Nations. He also played rugby himself,” Ms Charles said. “He was a very active guy and always found time for exercise, he was also due to do an Ironman challenge. He inspired a lot of the family.
But perhaps his biggest love was for his family and his daughters.
“He was an amazing father,” Ms Charles said.
“He just loved to play with them, they used to love to sing together and they would go on bike rides together.
“They have recorded a song, Shawn Mendes’s There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back, to play at his funeral. He would always play that song and they’d all sing it together.”
Discussing the support the family had received since news of Mr O’Brien’s passing became known, she added: “We’re overwhelmed and so grateful for the support from the public.
“It is an honour as a family to know we raised somebody that special who obviously touched a lot of people.”
Mr O’Brien was wellknown in Llanelli’s rugby fraternity, having played for Furnace United Rugby Football Club.
Paying tribute to Mr O’Brien, club secretary Kevin Jones said: “He was a very popular chap with the players and the club members both on and off the field.”
The club also wrote a tribute on Facebook, which some of his exteammates responded to.
Among them was Nick Stevenson, who wrote: “A true warrior. He would go to battle with you on Saturday. Such a great guy and I’m privileged to have played with him and more so to have called him a mate. Will be missed.”
And Steven Evans wrote: “A really good lad and a good player too. Tackle anything and run in to anyone. And one of the biggest smiles around. That’s what I’ll remember. Awful news.”
Mr O’Brien’s funeral will be held at Llanelli Crematorium on Monday, at 3pm, followed by refreshments at Furnace United RFC clubhouse at 4pm.
The JustGiving page raising money to help fund a memorial bench for Mr O’Brien’s daughters to remember him, plus a separate memorial fund to raise £1,000 to help with family funeral costs, with any remaining money to go towards Mr O’Brien’s daughters, can be found at https:// www. justgiving. com