THE partner of a Westbury man who died suddenly last week has paid tribute to him, saying she has lost her soulmate.

Juliet Badger said the family of Damian Bond, a father of five, were “absolutely devastated” by his sudden death.

“I was by his side when the Air Ambulance men said he had gone. I begged him to stay but he couldn’t.

“His older children are being so brave and supporting me but his younger boys are finding it very hard to understand as they have autism.

“We are not 100 per cent sure of the cause of death as yet as we are awaiting the results of a post-mortem.

“Damian had left for work absolutely fine and we were expecting him home but he never came. He was fit and well and hadn’t even seen a doctor in 15 years.

“He meant the world to me and my children and I’ve never experienced pain like this before in my life. I’ve lost my soulmate.”

Mr Bond,44, of Leigh Park Way in Westbury, is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest at work at around 9.27pm on Tuesday, March 29.

Paramedics and Wiltshire Air Ambulance attended but were unable to save Mr Bond.

Originally from Frome, he had spent the last 13 years in Westbury and worked for Hills Waste at its Resource Recovery Centre in Stephenson Road.

Juliet, 45, said: “He loved his job and had made some fabulous friends there.”

The couple were not married but have been together for the past 24 years. They have five children Larrisa, 26, Amy, 25, Shannon, 22, Harvey, 11, and Kenton, five.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “We were called to a medical incident shortly after 9.30pm (March 29) at Hawksworth Industrial Park, Westbury.

“Paramedics also attended, but sadly, a 44-year-old man died at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious and the next of kin have been informed.

“Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time.”