Man dies weeks after falling on icy Edinburgh pavement

• Alan Wills, pictured with his mum Linda, slipped in the snow on Leith Walk weeks before he died after falling unwell at his work

Alan Wills, who lived in Leith Walk, passed away minutes after he started to feel breathless and unwell at his work.

Despite best efforts to save him, the IT worker, originally from Haddington, died as he was being taken to hospital.

He suffered a pulmonary embolism - where a blood vessel supplying the lungs becomes blocked by a clot - as he was being rushed to the ERI last Saturday.

Although this can occur at any time, his family believe his death was linked to a fall in Leith Walk three weeks ago. He had injured ligaments in his right knee and was on crutches.

Today, Mr Wills's father, 52-year-old Willie Wills, who served in the police for more than 30 years, said his son "loved life and was never short of friends".

He said: "Alan was so laid back he was almost asleep. He was very easy going. Even through a family's rose-tinted spectacles, you could say he was well-loved and never fell out with anyone. He was a gentle giant.

"I hadn't seen him face-to-face for two years as I now live in Wisconsin, but we would chat over the computer. We're all so lucky we can look back and know that there were no bad words or fall-outs. He was always happy and loved his family. From this we can take comfort and move forward."

Mr Wills' mother, Linda, 56, said: "I just can't believe that from a slip in the snow we've come to this. He'd been off work for ten days then went back last Thursday. Two days later he was gone.

"My son was very caring. We'd see each other most weekends and for the past few years he saw a great deal of his granny Jean and papa Alan."

His aunt Elaine Hutchison added: "His grandparents are devastated. His grandad keeps saying 'they've taken the wrong Alan'. Linda and I have taken great comfort from all the loving messages left for Alan on Facebook."

Mr Wills' funeral is set to take place tomorrow in Lorimer Chapel at Warriston Crematorium at 11am. His family have insisted that it is an "upbeat celebration of Alan's life" and will be playing some of his favourite tunes, including Hallelujah, by Jeff Buckley, and Revelry, by Kings of Leon.

His sister, Lesley, 26, said that he had loved rock music, in addition to regular gaming and film nights with his friends.

Mr Wills, a former Knox Academy pupil who attended Haddington Infant and King's Meadow schools, had been a bass guitarist for local group The Nick Smith Band.

Known affectionately as Big Al, he attended Napier University, where he achieved a BEng honours degree in multimedia systems. He worked at IT support company Sykes Global Service, in Calder Road.

Chuckling, his father recalled: "He used to say one of the most common calls was from people saying they couldn't find the 'Any' key, when they were instructed to 'press any key'. He dealt with them very professionally but it used to make him laugh.

"He was taken ill at work, and there was nothing anyone could have done. One of his colleagues was with him and they said he was joking and smiling, trying to make light of it, even when they put him in the ambulance. He'd always make the best of a situation."

All friends and family are invited to the funeral, and attendees are welcome to make a donation to humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders. Mr Wills also leaves behind his sister, Amanda, 35, who lives in Musselburgh.