A DAD-OF-TWO who went to hospital with chest pains died an hour after medics sent him home after diagnosing anxiety, it is claimed.

Simon Gamble’s “heart just stopped”, according to his mum Chrissie Westgate.

Builder Mr Gamble, 46, from St Osyth, leaves two children, aged nine and seven.

Mrs Westgate, of Coast Road, West Mersea, alleges Clacton District Hospital sent her son home twice within 24 hours of his death, and has called for a review of its procedures.

She said: “It was horrendous. He had been to Clacton Hospital twice, the day before and the day he died, with pains in his chest.

“Both times he was sent away because they told him he was suffering from anxiety.

“He came out of hospital, went home on his own where within an hour, we think, he died.

“That’s awful for us because if only he had phoned us. We might not have found him alive but you don’t know.

“We intend to follow it up but can’t until we have the post-mortem examination report.”

Mrs Westgate said her son, of Dairy Farm Meadow, St Osyth, was not an anxious person and did not have underlying heart problems.

She said: “The coroner phoned and said it was not a heart attack, she said his heart just stopped beating.”

Mr Gamble died on January 2.

Mrs Westgate, who is married to Colin, said the post-mortem examination will be available in three weeks.

She said: “I wouldn’t dream of suing anyone or anything like that.

“But to send him home twice - why didn’t they send him to Colchester hospital?

“I wasn’t there and I don’t know what he said to them, but somebody should have sent him for further tests.

“We are not the sort of people that are going to start shouting and screaming, but we will voice our concerns by writing a letter to say in the future we would like their procedure taken seriously.”

A spokesman for Anglian Community Enterprise said: “We would like to offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Mr Gamble on their loss.

“Patient confidentially regulations do not allow us to publicly discuss an individual patient’s condition and treatment. “However, we will investigate the circumstances of Mr Gamble’s visit to Clacton Hospital’s minor injuries unit on January 2 and if his family wishes to contact us we will, naturally, discuss with them any concerns they may have.”

Tributes have been paid to “free spirited musician” Simon Gamble who died of suspected cardiac arrest.

Mr Gamble grew up in Mersea and attended Lexden Primary School and Thomas Lord Audley School, both in Colchester.

His son Noble-Oak, nine, and daughter Sheka-Bridie, seven, live with their mum in Cornwall.

He also leaves mum Chrissie Westgate, dad David Gamble and stepmum Valerie, who live in Colchester, and sister, Victoria.

His passions were music and building.

The self-employed builder enjoyed redesigning gardens and renovated his mum’s home when they moved in.

He played the guitar, banjo and trombone, which he also taught himself to play. He once performed at London’s famous Mean Fiddler music venue, which has since been demolished.

Mum Chrissie Westgate said: “He was a person who lived totally in the moment.

“If he didn’t want to go to work one day, he wouldn’t, he would sit and play guitar.

“Riches didn’t interest him, he just loved life. A friend said to me, however long he lived, no-one was ever going to clip his wings.”

Mrs Westgate said she had received about 160 sympathy cards.

She said: “Everybody knew him. We have never had so many people phone up and come round and offering condolences.

“I have been astounded by it, it is humbling.”

About 500 people are expected to attend his funeral at St Peter and St Paul Parish Church, West Mersea on Friday at 11am.

Mrs Westgate said her son loved walking along the Coast Road and the funeral cortege route would replicate this.

A foot drawn cortege will leave Dabchicks Sailing Club in Coast Road at 10.30am and will travel along the seafront road to the service.

Musician friends of Mr Gamble will perform at the church.