TRIBUTES have been paid to a father-of-three who died from suspected swine flu.

Stephen Hall, 45, head chef at the Dressers Arms pub, Wheelton, died at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Mr Hall had worked at the popular pub for around a year. His wife Lynda, 46, described him as “a gentle, kind and caring man”.

She said: “He was a big, strong, healthy man. I just keep thinking it’s a bad dream and I’m going to wake up.”

Mr Hall, who lived in Westhoughton near Bolton, began to feel unwell the week before Christmas but insisted on fulfiling his duties at The Dressers.

He was due to cook Christmas dinner for his family at their home on December 25, but was too poorly.

When he went to work on the Bank Holiday Monday he was sent home and went straight to bed before phoning his GP.

Mrs Hall said: “The doctor said it sounded like suspected swine flu and told him to stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids.

“But he was still poorly on the Thursday.

“On New Year’s Eve, I went to babysit our grandson, Max.

“Our son, Ben, called me from home and said ‘you’ve got to come and look at dad, he’s making a funny noise’.

"I went back and into the bedroom, and as soon as I looked at him I thought he was dying.”

Mr Hall was taken to hospital in the early hours of New Year’s Day, by which point he had contracted pneumonia.

His condition worsened when his lungs and kidneys failed and the family made the heartbreaking decision to turn his life support off on Saturday.

Mrs Hall said: “It’s all over the news about swine flu and it’s so frightening.

“Don’t believe everything you hear that you’re only going to get it if you have underlying health problems.

“Steve said he was going to get a jab when he was better, but it was too late.”

Mr Hall also leaves two sons, Ben, 21, and Sam, 18, and daughter Sarah, 20 as well as four-month-old grandchild, Max.

Friend and colleague from the pub, Chris Jones, 31, said: “He was a fantastic chef and he was always laughing.

“He’s going to be missed.”