A family gathered in Middlesbrough to bury a son and brother, but the service turned into a second tragedy when his father collapsed and died at the chapel doors.
A Middlesbrough family is mourning an unimaginable double loss. David Beilicki, 41, was found dead at a relative’s home on July 31. He had battled drug addiction for years, but had recently been making progress. An investigation into the cause of his death is still underway.
David’s death fell on a significant date for his family — ten years after the memorial for his stillborn twin boys, Karson and Deacon. His funeral was held on August 21 at St Bede’s Chapel in Teesside Crematorium. As mourners carried his coffin into the chapel, his father Norman, suddenly collapsed.
Mourners carrying a coffin with David’s body inside from a post dated August 27, 2025 | Source: Facebook/rosefuneralsmemorials
Norman “Nosha” White, David’s father, collapsed outside the chapel. The 61-year-old was taken to the hospital by ambulance but could not be saved. He died while his family remained inside to say goodbye to his son.
Speaking after the service, Norman’s daughter Chantelle said, “I think he must have died from a broken heart. I think seeing all the family together like that must have been too much.”
Doctors describe a condition known as “broken heart syndrome,” where extreme stress or grief can trigger sudden heart problems. The Mayo Clinic notes that the condition often feels like a heart attack, with chest pain and shortness of breath, and is usually brought on by intense emotions or illness.
While many recover, the shock can prove fatal in some cases. A funeral notice shared by the family confirmed that Norman died suddenly on August 21 at the age of 61. He was described as a devoted father to Stephen, Chantelle, Marvin, Eron, Curtis, Nicole, and the late David.
Mourners carrying a coffin with David’s body inside from a post dated August 27, 2025 | Source: Facebook/rosefuneralsmemorials
Relatives also remembered him as a much-loved grandad, great-grandad, brother, uncle, and friend. His funeral is scheduled for September 18 at St Hilda’s Chapel, Teesside Crematorium, followed by a burial at Acklam Cemetery.
Norman’s daughter, Chantelle, confirmed his death in a message shared on social media two days after the funeral. She wrote that she and her siblings had lost their father on what was already a day of immense grief.
She explained that he collapsed before seeing his son laid to rest and said the stress of burying David had been too much for him to bear. In her post, she urged others to live life to the fullest, noting that her father had been only 61 and in good health.
A week later, Chantelle shared another tribute, reflecting on a moment that revealed her father’s rarely seen emotions. She recalled returning home after nearly nine weeks in hospital with Guillain-Barré syndrome, when she was uncertain if she would survive.
She remembered her father breaking down in front of the doctors and asking whether she would pull through. Normally private, she said it was one of only two times she had seen him cry. She described how proud he had been when she was discharged and said her own resilience came from his strength.
