THE heartbroken dad of tragic Paige Doherty has died at the age of 37 after struggling to deal with the loss of his daughter.
Boxer Jon Bothwell, above, died of a broken heart after his daughter was murdered at just 15 according to his devastated mother who paid tribute to him on Tuesday night.
The Daily Record reports that his mum Roseanne, 71, said: “He was heartbroken. Paige loved Jon out her mind too. He never got over it. He died of a broken heart. He was never the same after she died.
“He said he used to have nightmares where he’d see her at the bottom of his bed and she wanted him to go with her. We’ll never get over Paige’s death and Jon took it the worst. He died in the bedroom but they brought him back.
“The paramedics then took him to hospital. He was in a coma. He died there on Saturday.”
Jon’s body was found at his flat on Main Street, Cambuslang on Saturday night. He was taken by ambulance to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride, where he died.
He split up with Paige's mum Pamela Munro when his daughter was two. Pamela went on to marry Paige's step-dad Andy and they have since had their own children.
One friend told the newspaper: “Her dad was in and out of her life but he still loved her the way any dad would. He was a successful boxer and well known in Glasgow and beyond but he had his troubles with alcohol and the death of Paige was a hammer blow.
“Jon was in the hospital just last week and people close to him were very concerned about his wellbeing.
“He couldn’t get over the fact that he couldn’t save Paige. He lost his life the day she died.”
The pal added: “Paige was registered as Paige Bothwell when she was born and her name-changing had an effect on her dad.
“There was no mention of him at her funeral and that crushed him. Paige’s step-dad was at the centre of events and Jon was hurt by that. Jon was a decent guy and a good boxer but after everything that happened in his life he turned to drink.”
READ MORE: Bittersweet tribute from Pamela Munro after death of Paige Doherty’s dad
Killer John Leathem was jailed for the teenager's murder during which he inflicted more than 146 injuries on the schoolgirl after she stopped to buy a morning roll from his shop.
He dumped her body in bushes two days later.
The married dad-of-two was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to life with a minimum term of 27 years in October 2016 after pleading guilty to the murder.
A Police Scotland spokesman confirmed the death.
The spokesman said: "Around 6.30pm on Saturday August 25, 2018, police were called to a report of a 37-year-old man having taken unwell within an address in Main Street, Cambuslang.
“Emergency services attended and the man was taken by ambulance to Hairmyres Hospital where he later died.
“A post mortem examination will take place in due course to establish the exact cause of death, however there do not appear to be suspicious circumstances.
“A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
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