Tributes pour in for death fall postman
A dad from Wigan has died in a suspected fall at a friend's house.
Loved ones today paid moving tribute to postman Danny Johnson after his body was found at the bottom of the stairs at an address in Hartley Avenue, Scholes.
Neighbours have told police they heard a bang just minutes after he was dropped off by a friend at the house late on the night of Sunday, August 24.
But the grim discovery was only made by householder Kevin Powell the next morning and Danny was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination has confirmed he died of a severe head injury.
Police investigating the death say there are no suspicious circumstances.
The 35-year-old was a Wigan postman from Trafalgar Road, Swinley, and leaves a wife Delia and 13-month-old daughter Ophelia. His death is a second tragedy to hit the Johnson family, which also includes his parents Harry and Betty.
In 1989 his older brother Paul died aged just 23 from a brain tumour.
Teacher Delia, to whom he was married for four years, said: "He was a larger than life character who was full of fun. He had a very generous side to his nature. He always used to give his Christmas tips to Cancer Research.
"He loved his music – especially Ocean Colour Scene and The Who – and said he had the best job in the world as a postman because he was getting paid for taking exercise and listening to music!
"I don't think what happened has sunk in. I am just trying to keep myself busy."
Click next page for more ...Danny was a former pupil of Sacred Heart RC Primary in Springfield and St John Fisher High, Beech Hill, and during those childhood years was a promising rugby player with St Jude's.
Ron Molyneux was the club's under-11s coach in those days and renewed his friendship with Danny when they were both postmen.
He said: "He was a tremendous young player and a really nice lad.
"I lost my wife two and a half years ago and he really helped to comfort me in his own way."
Danny attended St John Rigby College, then switched to Wigan Technical College to study art.
This study continued at the University of Central Lancashire but he did not finish the course, working instead for cable company Ninex and later BT where he was a business accounts manager.
He joined the Royal Mail five years ago. Beside music and art his hobbies included watching sport and films.
A police spokesman said: "We were called to an address in Hartley Avenue at 11am on August 25 following the discovery a short time before of a man's body at the bottom of the stairs.
"The sudden death was investigated and it was concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances.
"The matter has now been passed on to the coroner."
Danny's funeral will take place at St John's Church, Standishgate, at 10am on Wednesday, September 10 followed by burial at Gidlow cemetery.
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Thursday 02 September 2010
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