A HERO paratrooper who served in Northern Ireland and Cyprus tragically died in a senseless accident in his Milton home.

David Oates - Davy to his family and friends - was the victim of a house fire in Cathay Street in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

His stepdaughter Ashleigh, 30, remembers him as “the most genuine, caring man” with a “heart of gold”.

Glasgow Times:

Ashleigh, right, with mum Isobel (Credit: Robert Perry)

She said: “He was so selfless, he’d help anyone before he thought of himself.”

But the 64-year-old was haunted by the demons of his past, after years of nerve-shattering operations serving his country in the parachute regiment of the British Army.

“We met in Club 30 in the town,” said his former partner and Ashleigh’s mum Isobel. “He just came up to me and chatted away.

“That’s the kind of person he was, he would speak to anyone.”

His outgoing personality masked pain at what he had witnessed in service, Isobel added.

The pair broke up after being together for around 12 years, after Davy’s mental health reached a crisis point.

“His mind and his body are at rest now,” Ashleigh said, through tears.

The fire which tragically claimed his life started around midnight.

“I found out after 1am,” said Ashleigh. “The police came and rattled the door. I came down and they asked to see my mum. I was in complete shock. It just didn’t make sense.”

Glasgow Times:

Isobel added: “I had just seen him that afternoon. I took a wee walk down with the boys and they fell asleep by the time I got to Davy’s but he was still happy to see them.”

She revealed the veteran, who was up until his death still not at liberty to reveal details of his time in the Army, had sustained bullet-wounds and had shrapnel buried under his skin.

Despite carrying both the physical and mental scars of war and his and Isobel’s separation, Davy spent any time he could with his family and was beloved by Ashleigh’s twin sons Cian and Colby.

“He drove a white car,” she said. “And the boys had a white toy car that they would get out and shout: ‘Davy, Davy!’ when he drove up.

“He loved them, anyone he would speak to he would tell them about the twins.”

His amicable break up with Isobel drove Davy was the final straw which drove him to seek help for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Isobel said: “He did speak about it sometimes, it was hard for him. I did listen to him. But he was a typical guy, he just said: ‘I can cope.’

A time-served mechanic, there were few things Davy to which could not turn his skilled hands. “Except for decorating,” said Ashleigh.

“We decorated that house he got in Cathay Street and he had the cheek to go around and pop the bubbles in the wallpaper.”

The family had only finished doing up his new home two weeks before his death.

Before that, he had lived in supported veteran accommodation in Cranhill.

Glasgow Times:

Born in Singapore to a military family, serving his country was in Davy’s blood. The life took its toll on him but once he finally accepted he needed help he got it from the Scottish Veterans Residences team in Bellrock Close.

Upon his discharge from the armed forces, Davy retrained as an HGV driver and was forced to retire a few years ago after suffering a stroke.

To celebrate Isobel’s 50th birthday, the family returned to Cyprus, where Davy had served in Famagusta.

“Going back to Cyprus was a big thing for him,” said Ashleigh.

She laughed when she remembered his delight when he realised their hotel balcony overlooked his favourite supermarket, Lidl.

“He wanted a picture of him with his beloved Lidl in the background. He was nuts but he had a heart of gold.”

A fundraiser has been set up by a friend of Davy's, Gerry Nimmo, to send money to his grieving family. You can find it here.

Davy is survived by Ashleigh Blair, his former partner Isobel Langlands and his son Collin Oates.