Builder, 36, died just weeks after scooping £25k jackpot online prize draw – as tributes pour in

A BUILDER has died just weeks after winning a £25,000 jackpot, prompting heartrending tributes to flood in. Carl Blakemore, 36, was found dead after winning the prize money from an online competition site just weeks beforehand. Carl Blakemore died just weeks after winning a £25,000 jackpot online Credit: WNS The builder, 36, was found to have died by hanging, an inquest heard Credit: WNS The provisional cause of death was given as hanging, an inquest heard. Described as a “hardworking and genuine lad” by his colleagues, Carl from Tonyrefail, South Wales, was said to have made a “lasting impact on everyone”. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Carl’s bosses at Davies Contractors Ltd are now urging people to “speak to others” and “break the stigma around men’s mental health“. The firm said: “Carl wasn’t just an employee – he was part of our family. Tributes flooded in for the builder, who colleagues described as a ‘hardworking and genuine lad’ Credit: WNS His employer Davies Contractors Ltd said his death has ‘deeply affected’ everyone Credit: WNS “He was a hardworking, loyal, genuine lad who made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him. “His passing has deeply affected every single one of us at Davies. “It is a reminder that life is precious and that behind every smile, there can be battles that others cannot see.” They added that mental health can affect people from “all walks of life”, stressing the importance of checking up on friends, family and workmates. Most read in The Sun How to get help EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858 Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk HUMEN www.wearehumen.org Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393 Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41 Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123 “A simple conversation can make all the difference,” they said. “Rest easy, Carl. You will always be part of the Davies family.” The construction company held a family fun day in a bid to raise funds for Carl’s grieving family. The tragic news follows his successful entry in a prize draw run by the online company Vortex. The site offers participants the chance to win Audi cars, campervans and even £50,000 in cash. A spokesperson for Vortex shared a tribute to Carl, with the message: “This is Carl. He won £25,000 off us a few weeks ago.” “Carl sadly passed away last week and I’ve been bombarded with messages telling me the news.” They added that the company intended to raise money to assist Carl’s family with funeral costs. A full inquest into his death is due to take place in Pontypridd, South Wales, at a date yet to be confirmed. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123. Comment now