Family statement pays tribute to much-loved Hartlepool cricketer Danny Shurmer

Danny, 43, passed away early on Thursday, June 17, after returning from work to the home she shared with fiancee Jill Couchman.

His family have issued a statement paying tribute to his memory and revealing details of how he died.

He had just returned home from a night shift at 6.10am and gone straight up to bed to greet Jill and take a nap.

Jill got up to make coffee and juice and returned to find him unresponsive.

The statement read: “Jill gave Danny CPR whilst on the phone to 999 and the first response paramedic arrived less than five minutes later. Paramedics worked and worked but Danny had gone.”

The family said Danny had four passions in his life – Jill, his dog Teddy, Hartlepool United and Hartlepool Cricket Club.

"Danny lived for sport. He was a lifelong Hartlepool United supporter and passionate supporter and player at Hartlepool Cricket Club.

"Football was one of the great loves of his life, and Danny enjoyed playing himself when parents Bill and Pam enrolled him on the HUFC school holidays club when he was at junior school.

"Danny was beyond excited looking forward to the upcoming Bristol game; ticket and hotel already booked, he joked with family in recent days that he would walk there if he had to.

As much as Danny loved Pools, he couldn’t wait for the cricket season to restart.

The statement said: “He loved his mates, he loved the banter and the craic and the camaraderie.”

Danny’s love of cricket also started with Bill and it was around aged 10 that he started playing for the Junior Team and also had a trial for Durham.

"In the last few years as age crept up a little and Danny slowed down, he played for the Second Team and was proud to be named Captain. Danny holds the dubious record of being the player out the most number of times on 99. He also got over 100 innings many times, and was known as an outstanding fielder throughout his playing career in all the teams."

Match officials at the India v New Zealand game at Southampton on Friday and Saturday are to wear black armbands in respect of Danny, a tribute arranged through the ICC by Danny’s friend and fellow cricketer, Hartlepool-born international umpire Michael Gough.

Danny met Jill at the club 13 years ago after she turned his head with the teas she provided for the first team games.

The couple got engaged in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida in 2018 and had just started visiting wedding venues and planning their big day.

Danny’s job in stock replenishment with Asda allowed him to watch and play his beloved sports: “Nothing would get in the way of a fixture, and he had his work/life balance down to a tee.

“Danny was much loved and adored and Jill and the whole extended family, both Jill’s and Danny’s, are heartbroken. Jill, Bill and Pam are all devastated but are taking some small consolation from all the messages of condolence being posted on the Internet, and the outpouring of love for Danny.

"Gone but never forgotten.”

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