News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A UPS driver collapsed and died at a depot after working gruelling shifts delivering hundreds of parcels a day in the weeks leading up to Christmas, his friend has said.

Paul Crush, 42, died after suffering a suspected heart attack at the UPS depot in Stanford-le-Hope in Essex on Wednesday.

According to pals, the dad-of-two had been working punishing shifts delivering 240 Christmas parcels a day.

One friend even said he was "worked to death" as his wife Tracey, 40, is said to be "beside herself with grief".

Paul, from Chelsford, Essex, was a dad to a daughter, eight, and a four-year-old son, and earned around £30,000 a year working for the logistics firm.

Workers usually deliver around 100 parcels a day but the Christmas rush saw this figure more than double over the past six weeks.

Mr Crush's pal told The Sun: "I saw him having coffee before he started his shift and he looked tired and said it had been a struggle for him to get out of bed - but he was as cheerful as ever.

"That was his problem. He was the kind of guy who would never say no to extra work.

"He'll have died of natural causes but his mates who knew him think he's been worked to death."

UPS said in a statement: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our fellow UPSer. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues."

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to raise funds for Mr Crush's family.

A statement on the page reads: "Following the tragic loss of Paul Crush, who leaves behind his lovely wife Tracy, daughter (8) and son (4).

"We’d like to start a collection to ease the pressure on the Crush family, perhaps assist with funeral costs or just to treat the children, whatever may help.



"Please give as little or as much as you can afford - thank you!"