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Hillsborough hero Dave Roland passes away from coronavirus

A Liverpool fan that has been hailed as a hero due to his effort to save dying fans at Hillsborou...



Hillsborough hero Dave Roland...
Soccer

Hillsborough hero Dave Roland passes away from coronavirus

A Liverpool fan that has been hailed as a hero due to his effort to save dying fans at Hillsborough has passed away from coronavirus.

Dave Roland, 65, passed away last week from COVID-19, and his family paid tribute to him.

"He was youthful, unique, kind-hearted and fun," his daughter Michelle Hopwood told the Liverpool Echo.

"He was the ultimate Peter Pan which helped form a joyful bond with his grandchildren, always turning up in daft hats and glasses, playing board games or being competitive telling them he could do anything because he was ‘the best’ at whatever the topic of conversation was.

"He beamed with pride when he attended events that his grandchildren were participating in and loved to take photographs to show them off.

"He was known for being kind and generous to a fault.

"We have received so many messages from people who have explained the impact dad had on their lives, from taking so many to their first Liverpool game standing them on a box in the Kop, to pouring out words of advice which some men are now saying changed their lives, even keeping them out of prison.

"Carl [Michelle's brother] says he is the dad he is to his daughter, because of the type of dad my dad was to us."

Hillsborough hero Dave Roland

On the tragic day in Sheffield, the anniversary of which is on Wednesday, Roland and friend John Owen tried to help 17 year-old Henry Rogers as he lay on the Hillsborough turf.

Roland testified as the inquests into the disaster, saying:

"I always remember the blazing sunshine shining down on him, so John had him in his arms and I had hold of his hand... He just went lifeless and we got pulled away.”

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Coronavirus Hillsborough Lfc Liverpool