The sun-drenched wedding celebration of Hannah Collins in the luxurious Spanish resort of Marbella turned to tragedy when her beloved father, popular taxi boss Lee Collins, collapsed during her emotional speech and later died in hospital.
The 58-year-old founder of A2B Travel, described by friends and family as "the life and soul of every party," had been beaming with pride throughout his daughter's special day at the five-star Villa Padierna Palace Hotel.
A Father's Joy Turns to Tragedy
Witnesses described how Mr Collins, who had travelled from his home in Tamworth, Staffordshire, for the destination wedding, appeared to be in excellent spirits throughout the ceremony and initial celebrations. The devoted father had proudly walked his daughter down the aisle earlier in the day.
"He was having the time of his life," one wedding guest recounted. "Lee was laughing, dancing, and soaking up every moment of his daughter's happiness. He'd worked so hard to make this day perfect for Hannah."
The Moment Everything Changed
The tragedy unfolded during the wedding breakfast when Hannah stood to deliver her heartfelt speech about her father. Midway through her emotional words, Mr Collins suddenly collapsed at his table.
Wedding guests, including several medical professionals, immediately rushed to his aid, performing CPR until emergency services arrived at the exclusive resort. Paramedics worked desperately to stabilise him before rushing him to a nearby hospital.
Despite their best efforts, Mr Collins was pronounced dead a short time later, leaving the wedding party and 120 guests in complete shock.
A Community in Mourning
Back in Tamworth, where Mr Collins ran his successful taxi business for many years, tributes have been pouring in from the local community. Colleagues and customers described him as "a true gentleman" and "one of the nicest people you could ever meet."
One long-time friend shared: "Lee was the sort of person who would do anything for anyone. He built his business through hard work and genuine care for his customers. This is just devastating for everyone who knew him."
Family's Heartbreaking Decision
In an unimaginable turn of events, the family made the difficult decision to continue with the wedding reception following the tragedy, believing it was what Mr Collins would have wanted for his daughter.
"Lee had put so much into making this day magical for Hannah," a family friend explained. "The thought of the celebration ending in such tragedy was too much to bear. They chose to honour his memory by continuing with the joy he'd worked so hard to create."
The Foreign Office has confirmed they are supporting the family during this difficult time as they navigate the process of repatriating Mr Collins' body back to the UK.
