Family’s grief as father and son die hours apart
120357_POOL_31/1/12 (left) Diane Pool and husband Dominic Pool on the island of Malta in 2008. Dominic Pool and Robbie Pool (father and son) died within 36hours of each other in January 2012. Picture: Allan Hutchings (120357-525)
A DEVASTATED family say their world has been turned upside down after a father and son died 36 hours apart.
Robbie Pool, 43, passed away at Queen Alexandra Hospital following his two-year battle with liver failure.
His father Dominic Pool, 63, lost his fight with pneumonia in a separate ward just 36 hours later.
He died from the condition on January 20 after he picked up a chest infection over Christmas.
Surgeons previously had to remove a tumour from his brain.
Dominic’s wife Diane, 69, of Kensington Road, Copnor, said: ‘My whole world has been turned upside down.
‘I just don’t know what to do with myself.
‘Dominic and I did everything together. We were inseparable.
‘To lose my son as well is awful. I can’t even begin to explain how I feel.’
Dominic, who was born in Malta, moved to Portsmouth when he was 16.
During his working life he maintained ships at Portsmouth Naval Base.
Robbie, who lived in a flat in Highland Road, Eastney, was First Officer for Wightlink before he became too unwell to work.
Diane said: ‘Dominic was a quiet person, and Robbie kept himself to himself.
‘But if anyone needed a hand with anything they would be there to help them.
‘I knew they were very ill but I didn’t want to think that this would happen.’
Dominic and Robbie were life-long football fans and enjoyed listening to Pompey and Manchester United on the radio.
‘Dominic and Robbie were great together, they loved to banter,’ Diane said.
‘Dominic was a Pompey fan and Robbie loved Manchester United.
‘It used to be a laugh because Dominic called him a traitor.
‘Dominic loved his carpentry too. You would often see him in the garage making wooden bird tables for people.
‘I loved him very much. We adored each other.’
Robbie’s sister Lynne, 47, of Jasmine Grove, Waterlooville, said: ‘I’m just absolutely devastated.
‘To lose one member of your family is bad enough. But to lose two is just unbearable. We were all so close.’
Friends and family will pay their final respects at Dominic and Robbie’s joint funeral, which will take place at St. John’s Cathedral, Portsmouth, on Friday, February 10.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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