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Together right until the end
A devoted husband spent his final, frantic minutes trying to save the woman he called "the best wife in the world".
Stewart Whitfield, 56, collapsed and died just minutes after his wife, Olga, 61, suffered a suspected, fatal heart attack at their home in Tracey Avenue, West Boldon.
He was on the phone to paramedics trying to get help for his stricken partner, when it's thought he, too, suffered a massive heart attack and died within minutes of his wife of 15 years.
Relations today told the Echo the couple were completely devoted to each other and say neither would have wanted to live without the other.
Police had to break into the couple's home, on Sunday, October 18, where they found the dead couple.
Janet Christie, 58, of Holland Park Drive, Jarrow, Mr Whitfield's sister, today said: "Stewart was trying to save Olga when he died.
"He was apparently in bed when he heard Olga fall downstairs. We don't know if Olga was alive or dead by then, but he rang the paramedics to get advice and was trying to save Olga when he collapsed as well.
"They were so much in love. A real devoted couple and it's hard to think of them as ever being parted."
A pipe fitter, Mr Whitfield was due to head back to Portsmouth, where he was working on a Ministry of Defence contract, the day after the double tragedy.
Ivan Hay, 69, of West Boldon, Mrs Whitfield's brother, said: "The post-mortem was inconclusive about how they died and we will have to wait for the inquest to find out what happened.
"But Olga and Stewart always seemed an active, healthy couple, who loved walking. We weren't aware of any major health problems.
"They just loved each other and loved being with one another.
"Stewart always worked away, but rang Olga every day. He made Olga laugh with his whacky sense of humour and she was always giggling at things he said.
"They were just made for each other."
Mr and Mrs Whitfield, who together had three daughters from previous relationships, first got together 18 years ago, and enjoyed recent trips to the Baltic, the Lake District and Whitby.
On her final birthday in May, Mrs Whitfield received a birthday card from her husband, which read: "My Olga – the best wife in the world – loads and loads and loads of love."
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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