A heartbroken family have paid tribute to a “loving and caring” former firefighter who died suddenly.

Jim Green passed away at his home in Rock Road, Sittingbourne, on Tuesday, October 19.

The 69-year-old had returned from a seven-week holiday to Kos, in Greece, with his wife Pauline 12 days earlier.

Jim’s family said Kos was one of his “happy places”, where he had spent many years making memories.

Paying tribute, Pauline said: “He was the most loving and caring man; a great, loving husband and I am so lost without him.

“He was my soul mate, my best friend, my rock and now I feel I have I’ve lost everything. I will miss him for the rest of my life.”

Pauline, 68, said her husband’s death had been a “massive shock” to her and her family.

She added: “He was a lovely, lovely man and he was so sociable – he would talk to anybody and everybody.

“He could have been out there tinkering with the car and stop and chat to someone, or we’d go to the supermarket and he’d chat to the workers and maybe have a little dance – they all got to know him over the years.

“I’m going to miss him awfully. I thought we had at least another 15 to 20 years together and I didn’t anticipate this.”

The couple, who have two sons, Nathan, 40, and Matthew, 37, and an 11-year-old grandson called Oliver, had been married for 45 years and together for 51.

Jim, who was born Stephen George Green in Romford, Essex, joined the Royal Navy in 1969 and met Pauline in Singapore at the end of 1970, before going into the Fire Brigade 10 years later. He stayed with the service until his retirement in April 2013.

Nathan said: “On the 19th of October I lost my best mate and my hero. Dad was an inspirational man and has guided me through so much over the years.

“We love and miss him so, so much already and, at this stage, we just feel so numb and don’t know what to do next.”

He added: “Over his working career as a firefighter for Kent Fire and Rescue Service he has helped so many people in their time of need and, after he retired from the fire service, he continued to help people, make people laugh and be a good friend to all.

“Everyone loved him and we don’t really think he knew the extent of that.”

Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

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