Man cuts 12-year-old dreadlocks in memory of friend

Dave Simons offered to cut his dreadlocks off if the fundraiser reached £5,000

A man, who grew his dreadlocks for 12 years, cut them off to raise money in memory of his friend who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.

In February, Justin Carlin from Northampton was on holiday in Barcelona, Spain, with his wife Jo when he collapsed and died, aged 49.

She begun a fundraiser in aid of the British Heart Foundation and her husband's friend Dave Simons offered to cut his dreadlocks off if the fund reached £5,000.

On 15 March, the fund hit the target, and Mr Simons arranged to have his hair cut on the following Wednesday.

Justin Carlin passed away suddenly after collapsing on a holiday in Barcelona

Recalling what happened to her husband, Mrs Carlin said: "Everything was great and then all of sudden on the Saturday night he collapsed."

She hoped the fundraiser in her husband's memory would also build awareness of the European emergency number which is 112.

Mrs Carlin said: "I knew the number for the emergency service [in Europe]... The amount of people that have asked me how I knew was shocking really."

Dave Simmons grew his dreadlocks for 12 years

After the dreadlocks were removed Mr Simmons admitted he felt a mix of emotions, having grown his dreadlocks for about 12 years.

He added: "Never thought I'd see my hair on my lap and not attached to my head".

He said his friend would likely "be up there rolling around laughing his head off".

Ms Carlin watched the haircut which took place in a park near her home.

The widow described Mr Simon's actions as "surreal and emotional".

She said: "It's massive for him to offer to do that."