Tributes are paid after death of animal-lover Alek Krstic
Tributes have been paid to a well-known animal lover who dedicated more than a decade of his life to rescuing dogs in the Wyre Forest area.
Alek Krstic died when his car careered off the road and into a hedge. It is thought he had suffered a heart attack moments before the acciden, near Bewdley on Wednesday morning.
The 60-year-old, who lived in Birmingham Road, in Kidderminster, was best known for his work with SOS Animal, for which he ran a shop in Stourport.
He had one daughter called Andria, aged 32.
Today, charity shop co-manager Annie Bayliss paid tribute to the 'larger than life' man and described the moments she first heard he had died.
Miss Bayliss, 66, said he had left to take his three dogs for a walk in Far Forest near Bewdley, and was expected back at his home by 9am before opening the shop.
But Miss Bayliss, who was at his house on the morning, said: "As soon as it got to 9.15am, I was concerned. He was a man of routine and I knew something was wrong.
"I called his mobile, but it rang out, so I then called police who took my details.
"My daughter then went out to look for him, and saw the police by the road and the car in the field."
Mr Krstic was born in Bewdley to Yugoslav parents. He worked as a phone engineer and following retirement he turned his attention to dogs and helped Stourport-based SOS Animal, before opening a shop in Lombard Street seven years ago.
Miss Bayliss said: "He loved his dogs and he used to say if anything happened to me, don't give up the shop.
"His death won't stop the charity or the volunteers' work, despite everyone being upset."
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