Tributes to man who died after heart attack in Horsham shopping centre

Ian Murray, 76, of Pines Ridge, was retired but had enjoyed a long career as an historian and archivist in London.

Mr Murray was out shopping with his wife in Swan Walk, Horsham, on Monday January 13 when he fell ill.

The incident was reported to emergency services by school children.

His daughter Tamara explained he was waiting on a bench outside The Body Shop as his wife returned from the car.

The 42-year-old said: “When she returned she found her husband had been screened off and was in a terrible state. It appeared at the time that he had some type of fit and had lurched backwards off of the seat, hitting his head on the floor causing a serious wound with extensive bleeding.

“Shortly afterwards his heart stopped and despite trying for over an hour to resuscitate him, ambulance crews were sadly unable to.”

The family described him as ‘intelligent, articulate and humorous’.

Mr Murray wrote several books on history and had planned to write two more.

He met the Queen Mother when he worked for The Worshipful Company of Barber Surgeons (pictured above).

The family would like to thank all those at the scene .

“Everyone who was so kind and helpful including the school children, the ladies who first assisted, the nurse from Park Surgery who was passing who gave initial medical assistance and started CPR until the ambulance crew arrived, the staff of the shopping centre, the lady who worked in Boots who was so kind, the family friend who was on the scene, and paramedics who worked so hard to save him.”