71-year-old dies after running to help shop assistant robbed at knifepoint for just £30

A pensioner collapsed and died after rushing to help his shop assistant partner when her store was robbed at knifepoint.

Tony Ryan had dashed round to Wylie’s Newsagents in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, following a phone call from his terrified partner minutes after the robbery.

Lynn Gray, 63, was working in the corner shop on Friday afternoon when a man burst in and threatened her with a knife.

The robber escaped with around £30 in cash, leaving Lynn uninjured but very distressed.

Mr Ryan, 71, who lived nearby with Lynn, heard what had happened and rushed to the shop to comfort her.

But when he got there he collapsed in front of his horrified partner.

He was taken to Crosshouse Hospital but died a short time later.

Last night neighbours spoke of their shock and paid tribute to the couple.Colleen Monaghan, who lives near the newsagent, said: “I was in that shop every day. Lynn is lovely and her partner would be in sometimes when she was working.

“It’s just such a shame. I’ve grown up in this area and I think everyone is completely shocked by this. It’s not something that would ever happen here.”

A friend of Tony and Lynn said: “It’s just unbelievable that someone would collapse and die like this.

“Tony was such a lovely guy, and he would have done anything for you.

“Lynn called him straight away after what happened in the shop, and he must have just run round as soon as he could.

“He would have been so worried for her to have been in that situation, but for him to collapse like that is just unbelievable.

“People will be outraged that this has happened in our area.”

Another neighbour said: “They are well known and well liked in this area, and it’s just truly awful.

“It’s just the fact that the heart attack has been brought on by something like this, someone robbing a shop, is really tragic.”

The couple were long-time members of Saltcoats Bowling Club and often seen at local bingo nights.

The club said it had passed on its condolences to the family privately.

Detective Inspector Fraser Normansell at Saltcoats CID said: “This was a very traumatic experience for the 63-year-old shop assistant who not only suffered the ordeal of the robbery itself but also witnessed the elderly man collapsing in the aftermath of the incident.

“It is vital that we trace the culprit and stop him from causing any further harm and distress.

“As such, I urge anyone was in the vicinity of Springdale Street in Saltcoats around 3.40pm on Friday and may have seen the suspect hanging around the area to contact police at Saltcoats immediately via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 2056 of January 12, 2018.

“I also appeal to any drivers who were in the area to check their dash cams as they may have captured the suspect on their camera.

“If so, I ask that they also contact police urgently.”

The suspect is described as white, 5ft 8ins, medium build and was wearing a blue rain jacket with the hood up, blue jeans and had a black scarf covering his face.