Son died after failing to find dad in resort

Mark Barton was described as a ‘troubled but good man’ by his family, who received a knock on their door from police officers just days before Christmas.

The 34-year-old died in an alleyway off Cocker Street and Dickson Road in North Shore despite frantic attempts by a passerby and paramedics to save him last week.

Jeffrey Barton, 56, said: “He came up to Blackpool to live a few days before he died and he was trying to find me.

“Mark was missing me and had not seen me for ages. He was loving and caring.”

Mark, who lived with his mother from a young age after her divorce from Jeffrey, was working at a garage and living in a caravan in Bristol until recently, Mr Barton said.

He travelled to the resort but was unable to find his dad, who moved from Dickson Road to The Crescent in South Shore in 2013.

Mark contacted the council and was offered temporary accommodation but didn’t accept it, The Gazette understands.

Jeffrey, a dad-of-eight, said: “I don’t know where he was sleeping. The council said they were waiting for him to go back in but he didn’t return. I didn’t know he was in Dickson Road where I used to live.”

Mark was hospitalised after having a seizure shortly before his death, Jeffrey learned, although it’s too early to say if it contributed to his death.

Mark’s brother, Kyle, 19, said: “He had a great sense of humour and was always putting a smile on people’s faces.

“He was just a cheeky chap really. He had his troubles but he was a good man.”