'Sometimes heroes struggle too': Daughter's emotional tribute to Wolverhampton firefighter

The daughter of Wolverhampton firefighter Andrew Moore has written an emotional tribute to her "beloved" father after he took his own life aged 50.

Mr Moore's funeral was being held today at Stafford Crematorium.

Daughter Grace Moore has already raised more than £4,000 for mental health charity mind after writing openly about her "hero" father on a Just Giving page.

Mr Moore, who lived in Huntington near Cannock, was found dead at Wolverhampton fire station in Merridale Street on February 16. He was on night duty with his colleagues at the time.

An inquest heard he took his own life after suffering depression.

'Depression is not a weakness'

Grace, who said her father carried "a beautiful trait and gift of empathy," called for people to talk more openly about depression and suicide in a bid to reduce the number of deaths.

She said: "As many of you know my hero, my father, firefighter Andrew Moore, took his own life after a long battle with depression. My dad was never one to speak openly about his illness, he feared being a burden, and he's not the only one to feel this way.

"Depression is not a sign of failure or weakness. Suicide is not a taboo word. Suicide is real. And my dear father, my loving hero, felt like this was a battle he could not endure any longer.

"It’s now more than ever we need to stand up to prevent suicide, especially to the statistically most vulnerable - men aged 45-50.

"As a 19-year-old soldier, my dad put his career on hold to look after his mum and siblings after the untimely death of his own dad, also aged just 50.

"After leaving the army, he joined the fire service. Every day to this very day, I am in awe of the courage and selflessness of him and other firefighters who walked into danger to rescue others and help strangers through traumatic events.

"The void and emptiness that is left, for myself, my beloved brother, James, and my mum is unimaginable. He was our very own hero, an ex-military, incredibly talented triathlete, personal trainer, he spent 26 years in the fire service and was always, always, always helping others before himself.

Kind and courageous

"He was the most selfless man I had ever known. My dad was the kindest, most loving, courageous man. He was the best of sons, husbands and brothers. He was funny, so funny, he was quick-witted, an amazing mimic and full of mischief.

"He was highly empathic and carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He was sensitive to everyone’s needs but his own. He wanted to rescue. He wanted to heal people. He always knew what someone was feeling without even asking. He knew that something was up without knowing how or why. My dad carried this beautiful trait and gift of empathy, he had such a big heart.

"But every day he felt lost, he struggled with daily life. He said he didn't feel any joy in life, his was all a pretence.

"He was our best friend as well as our father and we will be forever grateful for the incredible childhood, loving relationship and special bond we had with him. Our lives were so full of love and happiness it is still impossible to believe that this could have happened. But it did. And now things have got to change.

"My dad knew that he was loved and supported, and we knew he loved us back. But we couldn't fix him and we couldn't make him stay."

Grace said she felt it was important to share her father's story as a warning to others about the dangers of depression.

She added: "I don’t want how he died to be a secret. If more people talked about suicide without the label of it being ‘shameful’ and if people understood how quickly depression can take over, then there might be fewer deaths - and fewer children that lose their fathers so tragically.

"I’m not ashamed of how my dad died, but I'm proud of how he lived; the happiness he brought to people all over the world, the way he taught and inspired me to be the strong, independent and brave woman that I am today.

"My dad was my hero. And sometimes heroes struggle too."

• Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-moore-firefighter to donate.