THE girlfriend of “an amazing hairdresser” is struggling to come to terms with his sudden death.

Tamar Churchill, 42, was pronounced dead at Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, after being found collapsed in a car park in the town.

The cause of his death last Wednesday (October 3) is still unascertained and the coroner has been informed.

Lindsey Marsh, who had been with Mr Churchill for four years, said he had recovered from a bout of sepsis which had led to him being hospitalised over the summer.

Ms Marsh, who lived with him in Victoria Gate, said: “It was so unexpected. We’re still in shock and it has left a massive hole.

“He was everything to me and we were rarely apart.

“He was an amazing hairdresser and had done shows in London. He was just so passionate about his work and really excited about it.

“I can’t walk from my house to the shop without someone saying what a brilliant hairdresser he was.”

Mr Churchill, who was brought up in Devon, worked for 14 years at the former Trademark, in High Street, Taunton, where his sister, Amber, was a beautician and Ms Marsh was a receptionist for a period.

She said he had previously worked at Nichares hair salon and Hair Associates in the town and was more recently doing mobile hairdressing.

Ms Marsh added that Mr Churchill had also lived in Lanzarote and Majorca and enjoyed travelling abroad.

“He was a free soul, a really happy person,” she said.

“He was great fun and passionate about everything.

“He loved our dog, Disco, and loved taking him out on his bike.

“He always looked after himself and took pride in his appearance.”

Mr Churchill leaves his parents, his sister, two nieces and a grandmother.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokeswoman said he had been found collapsed last Wednesday.

She added: “He was taken to Musgrove Park Hospital by ambulance and, sadly, pronounced dead at about 8pm.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and police are preparing a report for the coroner.”

Meanwhile, friends of Mr Churchill have launched a crowdfunding appeal to help pay for his funeral at Taunton Deane Crematorium on Friday, October 26, at 2pm.

A wake will follow at the Victoria Gate pub afterwards.

The family have requested that people wear colourful clothes.

The appeal also aims to fund a bench in his memory, which could be placed in Vivary Park, where Mr Churchill spent many lunchtimes during his time working at the Trademark salon.