Woman tells of last words she told dying fiancé who went to work but never made it home

Brian and Mandy Walsh were planning their wedding when his health took a sudden turn

A woman has told of her ongoing grief ahead of the 22n'd anniversary of her fiance's death, urging men: "Get checked out, not only to save yourself but to save your family from the heartache of sudden loss."

Brian Walsh was just 30 when he left his fiance Mandy Walsh for work on August 15th, 2002 as a prison officer in Mountjoy but he never made it home.

The athletic 6ft 2inch man who had been suffering 'niggling' headaches had a brain aneurysm while at the gym on his lunch break and remained in a coma at Dublin's Mater Hospital for over seven weeks until his untimely passing.

READ MORE: 12 things we expect in Budget 2025 from tax breaks and energy credits to social welfare increases

READ MORE: People replacing air fryers with cheaper alternative that's just as healthy

Over two decades later and Mandy admits she still thinks of Brian every day. "We had our future planned. We had bought a house in Trim, Co. Meath because Brian was a fan of Braveheart, which was filmed there," said Mandy who runs Mandy Walsh Travel Counsellors.

"I was just 26 years old and he was 30. We were planning our wedding. He had been complaining of headaches and the doctor told him it was stress and to take a few weeks off work.

"About a week later, he sat at the end of the bed at 6am and said he felt better and was going to work. He rang me that morning and said he would call me again at lunchtime.

"At about 11am, he rang to say he felt great and he was going to the gym at lunch with a few of the lads from work and would ring me in the afternoon instead. That was the last time I ever spoke to him. The next call that I got was from a colleague of his at 1pm to say there had been an accident.

"I remember being stopped at the traffic lights at Phibsborough and something hit me that this was serious. Initially I just thought he had hurt his arm or something but then I just felt that something was very wrong.

"As I got nearer, there was a sea of blue uniforms waiting for me to bring me across to the Mater Hospital and when I got there, I was told to call everyone in to say goodbye because they thought Brian only had about 24 hours to live. But he fought and survived for over seven weeks.

"I went into the hospital every day, hoping there would be a change and there never was but on September 30th when I went in, I knew. He was a different colour and the physiotherapists were struggling to improve his stats. He passed away at 1.30am, just days after his 31st birthday.

"I've always been sadder for him. I got to move on, I got to have a life, I got to travel, he didn't get that chance. People who have a niggle or a pain, especially men, please, please go to the doctors. Loved ones, get them to the doctors no matter how small or irrelevant you think that pain is.

"You'll not only save yourself, you'll save your family from the heartache of sudden loss. It's been almost 22 years but I still talk about him everyday. They say that people in a coma or unconscious can still hear you. I'd love to think Brian could. Because I was the one who had to whisper into his ear at 1.30am that it was time for him to go."

Sign up to the Irish Mirror'sdaily newsletter hereand get breaking news and top stories direct to your inbox.