Head chef, 38, dies suddenly in UK’s ‘only bar on the beach’

'It is comforting that if it was going to happen anywhere it happened somewhere he loved and was happy'

Matt Halford was found collapsed in the walk-in chiller of the Watering Hole on Perranporth Beach shortly after 9am Saturday after going to put a delivery away.

Despite attempts from medics and lifeguards to revive him, the 38-year-old died at the scene.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Matt's mum, Joanne Ballinger, paid tribute to her son saying he was "caring, he was a loving father, son and brother", would "put anybody first and help anybody he possibly could" and was "full of life".

The bar was initially closed over the weekend but Joanne said the family insisted it was opened for Mother's Day because Matt had been working hard to prepare meals. It became a "very emotional" day for everybody, but she said it was "amazing and beautiful".

She said: "The things the Watering Hole has done. My kids have been coming here since they were babies.

"It is comforting that if it was going to happen anywhere it happened somewhere he loved and was happy."

Matt leaves behind a partner Becky, 29, and three sons Jaden, 18, Harlyn, 16, and Mekhi, 14. Both Jaden and Harlyn help out in the kitchen at the Watering Hole.

"Matt had worked at the watering hole all of his life, with his brothers Lee & Jason & 3 sons who have been there all of their life. Along with their dad Mick aka Mad dog who was a character to say the least.

A GoFundMe page set up by Matt's oldest son Jaden to help finish a home renovation project his dad started had raised almost £5,500 by Friday morning.

The page reads: "The reason behind this Crowdfunding is to help raise as much money as me and my family can to help finish off the house that my Dad worked so hard to self-renovate. The house was coming on exactly how dad wanted it to be and he still had massive plans but on Saturday 18th March 2023 me and my family received the tragic news that dad had suddenly passed away."

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