Tributes to football coach Steve Jeffrey crushed to death by machinery at London office block

His heartbroken daughter said: ‘It shouldn’t have ended this way Dad’
Steve Jeffrey was crushed by machinery
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A “kind-hearted” football coach was crushed to death by machinery as he worked on the top floor of a central London office block.

Steve Jeffrey, 51, from Cliffe, near Rochester, Kent reportedly died as he worked on the ninth floor of Fleet Place close to St Paul’s Cathedral on April 20.

His family have been left in the dark about what exactly caused the father-of-two’s tragic death ahead of his inquest.

A source said that Mr Jeffrey, affectionally known as Scuba, is believed to have been trapped underneath machinery.

Forensics attend Fleet Place
Barney Davis

His daughter Amy posted on Facebook: “It shouldn’t have ended this way Dad. You were taken far too soon. Love you always.”

The 51-year-old spent “every spare moment” cheering his son Kai from the sidelines as he played for Ebbsfleet U18s and Whitstable Under 19s.

Higham Eagles FC posted a statement online saying: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to let you know that our Higham Eagles family lost our coach, mentor and good friend Steve Jeffrey.

“He loved his football, inspired everyone around him to love football and always made time to help his players.

“Steve always supported his Eagles and made time to talk through training and tactics with me over a beer or four!

“Everyone in the football community is gutted to lose such a big character and weekends will not be the same, but your spirit and love for the game lives on my brother.”

Close friend Ben Smoker launched a fundraiser for the avid West Ham United fan’s funeral.

He said: “Steve Jeffrey was unexpectedly and tragically taken from us. He went to work in London that morning and never came home.

“Steve worked very hard all his life and was full of pride for his family. His bubbly kind-hearted nature and caring personality touched so many. He would do anything for anyone and would put them unselfishly before his own needs.

“No one expects to go to work and lose their life.”

Paramedics, police and firefighters raced to 10 Fleet Place after a man became trapped on the ninth floor at around 10.20am.

One office worker told The Standard: “No-one knew what was going on, our bosses didn’t tell us.

“There were loads of fire engines, police the works. There have been maintenance guys on all the floors of the building today.

“It’s so sad to lose your life at work. No-one gets paid enough for that.”

SAS Ltd, where Steve worked for over 20 years, said that it didn’t know what exactly had taken place when he died, when approached by the Mirror for comment.

Mr Smoker told the Mirror: “We haven’t been given the details still, no one’s contacted the family still.

“The only information that we’ve got is from the coroner in terms of the cause of death it was cardiac arrest in terms of impact.”

To help the family pay for Steve’s funeral click here to donate.

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