Tribute to dad, 30, after death fall

TRIBUTES have been paid to an inspirational footballer and dad who plunged to his death from a multi-storey car park in Colchester.

Terence Joseph Pimm, who was known as TJ, fell from the third floor of the NCP car park on to the pavement alongside Southway, on Friday.

Despite attempts by the emergency services to save him, he died at the scene.

His sister Bekki, 22, of Colchester, said: “For a long time he had mental health issues and on Friday at 1pm he took his own life.”

TJ, who was 30, grew up in Dagenham before the family moved to Harwich in 2000.

He lived with his parents in Harwich and most recently worked for Direct Line insurance in Ipswich.

Bekki said he was always a natural and gifted footballer and played in the right midfield position.

“He played for local teams and was with the West Ham Youth Academy during his teenage years and then went onto be a coach in the West Ham community,” she added.

When TJ was 18 he went on a coaching scheme in America for two years.

Bekki said: “He was coaching around the whole country. He loved being around kids, and was very inspirational.

“He was admired and taught his nephew football skills.”

TJ then worked for the First Choice holiday firm as a football coach.

During this time he travelled to destinations including Spain and Egypt and met the mother of his little boy, now seven, who was a holiday rep.

When West Ham supporter TJ returned to England, he worked for Colchester United where he coached children in primary schools.

TJ was due to have started a new job in sales in Mayfair, London, before he died.

Bekki stressed the importance of speaking up if, like her brother, people felt they were struggling to cope.

She added: “I am open about mental health issues, it is OK to talk. It is an illness, it is not made up.”

An inquest into TJ’s death will be held by a coroner.

No date has yet been set for his funeral.