THE funeral of a diabetic, who died just weeks after his five-year-old daughter saved his life when he fell into a hypoglycemic coma, is being held on Friday.

Family and friends will pay their respects to Barry Barkess at St Andrew’s Church in Stanley at 11am.

Last month, Mr Barkess, who was insulin dependent, told the Northern Echo his five-year-old daughter, Holly Price, gave him a glucagon injection in the stomach after he collapsed.

But the 47-year-old builder was found dead at his home in Newburn Road, Stanley, on the morning of Friday, March 7.

The church service will be followed by cremation at Mountsett Crematorium.

Flowers are welcome and his family has said donations will be passed to Willowburn Hospice, near Lanchester.

After the funeral, a gathering is being held at The Ball Alley in Shield Row to share memories of Mr Barkess.

All welcome.