A Middlesbrough family faced unimaginable heartbreak when a father died at his son’s funeral. Forty-one-year-old David Beilicki was found dead on July 31 after years battling addiction. His family said he had recently been making progress, making the loss even harder to bear. His funeral, held on August 21 at St. Bede’s Chapel in Teesside Crematorium, marked ten years since the memorial for his stillborn twin sons, Karson and Deacon.
As mourners carried David’s coffin into the chapel, his father, Norman “Nosha” White, suddenly collapsed at the entrance. The 61-year-old was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved. “I think he must have died from a broken heart,” said his daughter Chantelle, describing how grief overwhelmed him.
Doctors note that extreme stress can trigger “broken heart syndrome,” a condition that mimics a heart attack and can be fatal under intense emotional strain.
Norman, described as a loving father, grandfather, and friend, will be laid to rest on September 18. His daughter later shared, “Dad was strong, but losing David was too much. He didn’t get to say goodbye.”
