'He had the biggest heart': Tributes to fundraiser who died on Lake District hike
A dedicated charity campaigner collapsed and died as he climbed one of Britain’s highest mountains on a fundraising challenge.
Mick Szydlowski, a bus driver from Rochester Way, Heath Hayes, was walking towards the 3,000 ft summit of Helvellyn when he fell ill from a suspected heart attack.
Emergency services were called out to the 60-year-old father-of-two who was airlifted to hospital on Saturday but he later died.
An avid pro-Palestine campaigner, who also worked for Arriva, Mick was trying to generate funds for the Working with Villages in Palestine project during the climb.
His son Philip told the Express & Star: “He was a man who put the plight of others less fortunate than himself before anything else. He had done his research on Palestine and was amazed something like that was not being reported on so he wanted to raise awareness.
“It was something that was very close to his heart especially in recent years.
“It is very hard for us at the moment. It was very sudden and came as a shock to us.”
Lisa Dundas, who runs the villages project and was with him in the Lake District added: “He was the most generous hearted, kindest men I have ever met. I will miss him dreadfully.
"One of things his wife has said to me was that his heart was obviously too big. He had the biggest heart out of anybody.”
Born in Wolverhampton, Mick had lived in Cannock Chase for around 40 years, originally in Hednesford before moving to his home in Heath Hayes.
He will be fondly remembered by many, especially those who caught the 825 Stafford to Lichfield service. At Christmas he was well-known for helping deliver presents to people. His family has asked people to donate to his fundraising page in his memory.
A spokeswoman from North West Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 9.37am on Saturday to a man in his early 60s who had fallen ill. We were called to the track leading from Glenridding.
"There was a mountain rescue team, an air ambulance and ambulance as well as another resource. The patient was taken to Cumbria Infirmary.”
Cumbria Constabulary added: “We were called at 10am on 24 June 2017 to a report of a man in his 60s having taken ill in the Glenridding area. He subsequently died. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
