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The family of British wrestling legend Ian 'Doc' Dean are asking for help so his body can be flown home to Liverpool.

Ian, 48, from Garston, wowed fans across the globe in The Liverpool Lads tag team with now WWE coach Robbie Brookside.

After starring in America, he settled in Orlando, Florida, where he died from a suspected heart attack on August 13.

The dad-of-three had his eldest child, Adam, with the queen of UK grappling, the World of Sport era villain Klondyke Kate.

The 56-year-old, real name Jayne Porter, says she and Adam, 30, are desperate to bring Ian back to his beloved Merseyside.

But they face a large bill and have launched a Go Fund Me appeal, which has so far raised £3,400 towards a £7,000 goal.

Jayne described the situation as a "nightmare" and said she was unsure whether her son would have to fly out to the US.

She told the ECHO: "Ian is over in America and they can't release his body without our Adam's say-so.

"I'm sad he was on his own and there was nobody there with him when he passed away.

"That's what broke my heart.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

"If I thought for one minute he wanted to be buried or cremated out there, I would have done it, no doubt about it.

"But we know his heart was here. The weather was better out there, his daughter was there, but he missed it here.

"He was Liverpool through and through. No matter how many years he had been away, he never lost his Scouse accent!

"He loved Liverpool Football Club, anything about Liverpool, he was always asking me about it."We all think as a family, including his mother and brothers, that he would want to come home."

Ian and Robbie, real name Robert Brooks, 52, from Kirkdale, twice won British tag team titles in the early 1990s.

They famously recorded Video Diaries for BBC2, featuring match clips, backstage footage and insight about life on the road.

Ian moved Stateside and performed for World Championship Wrestling on TV, before he was forced to retire due to injuries.

He set up his own plumbing business in Florida, but was unable to return to his job after several neck and back operations.

Jayne said they split up beforehand, but always stayed friends and spoke every week via social media and video calls.

She lives in Weymouth and Adam in Stoke, but said Ian still has family in Old Swan and West Kirby.

Jayne has shed tears re-watching Video Diaries, including a scene showing Adam as a toddler, walking with his dad.

She said: "He was bubbly, full of mischief, very proud of being from Liverpool... he was a joker. He was an all-round nice guy.

"I know he went to live in America but from when our Adam was born, till he was an adult, he would go out to see his dad for holidays that he would provide for him.

(Image: All Star Wrestling)

"As he grew up they were always close, but he hadn't seen him for some time and that's why Adam has been so sad.

He was a good dad, very kind.

"Jayne said Ian wasn't financially secure and didn't have insurance, but she hoped those who remembered his legacy could help the appeal.

She said: "I don't think Ian ever realised how much he was loved and respected and what an amazing wrestler he was.

"He was one of the first to pave the way for the [high flying] style of today. That style was just happening here then, Dynamite Kid had started doing that sort of wrestling.

"Then there came Ian and Robbie. Ian was the high flyer of the two. Ian was fearless. He was one of the forerunners of that style.

"I'm embarrassed to have to ask for help on this, but it's the only way I think we can do it.

"Even if just the wrestling fraternity and fans can help, that would be brilliant.

"I'm just hoping the respect they have got for Ian and possibly me as well means they will help out."You can support the Go Fund Me appeal here https://www.gofundme.com/bring-doc-dean-home