By Marjory Inglis

A 44-YEAR-OLD Dundee man has died following a massive heart attack, despite the desperate efforts of his wife and 10-year-old daughter to save him.

Graeme Marshall, who had no history of illness, collapsed at his home in Downfield.

His mother Sally yesterday told how her 10-year-old granddaughter Rachel held the telephone while ambulance control relayed instructions to her daughter-in-law Carolyn.

“Graeme had been up and down all night complaining of indigestion,” said Mrs Marshall, sen.

“Carolyn was getting ready for work and heard a crash and that was him falling.”

Carolyn and Macalpine Primary pupil Rachel rushed downstairs to find the fallen 6ft 2in dental technician, who trained students at Dundee Dental Hospital.

When Carolyn dialled 999, ambulance control talked her through heart resuscitation techniques, and she worked on her dying husband until the ambulance arrived.

“Rachel was there,” added Mrs Marshall, sen. “She was holding the phone for her mum when she was giving CPR. The ambulance were very, very quick. They were there within minutes.”

Mr Marshall was blue-lighted all the way to Ninewells Hospital where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. The incident happened on Sunday and he died on Tuesday without ever regaining consciousness.

The bereaved mother was also full of praise for staff in the ICU, where the decision was eventually taken to switch off life support machines.

“They were excellent, very, very good,” she added.

Mr Marshall moved to Dundee 13 years ago after he and Carolyn married. He was brought up in Angus but lived for many years in Cupar, where his parents had the Westport Tavern for 25 years before retiring to Arbroath.

Until Mr Marshall was 12 he lived in Inverkeilor, where his father Bert had a joinery business. The family moved to Meigle where they lived for five years before taking over the pub in Cupar.

Mr Marshall was educated at Alyth Junior Secondary School before taking up a five-year apprenticeship with Tay Dental Laboratories in Dundee as a dental technician doing mostly prosthetic work, producing false teeth and braces.

After completing his apprenticeship, he moved to Dundee Dental Hospital where he worked as a technician.

He remained there throughout his career but seven years ago transferred to the staff of Dundee University and spent his time training dental students at the hospital.

Mrs Marshall, sen, said her son was a Rangers fan but gave up his season ticket some years ago, telling her that when there was trouble at football grounds people picked on “the big guy.” He continued to support his team via the small screen.

Grieving the loss of her elder son, she said she had taken comfort from the many letters, flowers and phone calls that had been “an eye opener” to just how popular her son had been.

The family also received letters from students, past and present, expressing their appreciation.

Mr Marshall’s younger brother, Derek, lives in Gauldry.