A TAXI driver has died just two weeks after he was subjected to a vicious attack by three passengers.
Ian McLelland was found dead in bed by his distraught wife on Friday – only 14 days after he was kicked and punched by thugs during a sickening assault.
The brave cabbie had returned to work only a day after the attack, which the 57-year-old said
left him "fearing for his life" on the night of Friday, January 22.
But at 4.45pm on Friday he could not be woken at his home in Stamford Walk, Hartlepool, after falling asleep following a nightshift.
>> Colleagues pay tribute to taxi driverThe cause of his death is still unclear. But police say they are not ruling out a link with the attack that left Ian with cuts and bruises to his face.
A post-mortem examination is set to be carried out tomorrow and detectives say they are continuing the hunt for those responsible.
Ian's grief-stricken wife, Winifred, 66, described Ian as a "true gentleman" who was dearly loved by all his family and friends, including son Andrew Lee, 39, daughter Jacqueline Hunt, 37, and her children Ashleigh, 18, and Samantha, 14.
Winifred, who has been married to Ian for 33 years, said: "I find it hard to come up with words to describe what has happened.
"Ian was a gentle, quiet man and a great dad who never hurt anyone in his whole life, but he was never the same after what happened.
"He became very quiet and wouldn't talk about it, you could tell it had really shaken him up. I wish he had talked more about it and got it out of his system.
"In my mind, his death is linked no matter what people say.
"Now I just want the police to catch the thugs who did this to him."
The Mail reported how Ian, who has worked for Hudsons for 15 years, was driving a minibus when he was attacked in Ashley Gardens, in Hartlepool, at 10.30pm.
The cabbie was forced to stop the bus when a female passenger jumped out while the vehicle was still moving.
As he went to check she was okay, he was punched and kicked by three men, who had also been in the silver bus. The attackers then made off with keys before Ian phoned colleagues for help.
Detective Chief Inspector Jon Green, of Hartlepool Police, said: "There is no obvious cause of death so we are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination.
"We are not ruling out the possibility that his death is connected to the attack, which is still being investigated."
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Hartlepool Police on (01642) 302178 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
