A DEVOTED father has died from suspected septicaemia only days after being bitten by a dog.

A Staffordshire bull terrier – the owner of which has not been identified – locked its jaws on the arm of 33-year-old Stephen Hudspeth as he walked to work in Bishop Auckland, on Tuesday, January 20.

A few days later he fell ill with flu-like symptoms and was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with suspected blood poisoning.

Surgery and medication failed to save him and he died at 10.30pm last Wednesday.

The much-loved father made headlines in The Northern Echo after he built his stepson a Doctor Who Tardis replica for Christmas.

Wife-to-be Rachel Maughan, 34, who he lived with him in Croxdale Grove, Bishop Auckland, said she and her two sons were in shock after the loss of a “fun-loving joker” who brought laughter into their lives.

She said: “I just want everyone to know what a fantastic dad he was. He was devoted to his family and just a really, really special person, and I feel so lucky to have had the time I had with him.”

Miss Maughan said doctors told her an abscess on Mr Hudspeth’s elbow led to the fatal onset of septicaemia.

“He said he felt like he was coming down with something that Saturday,” she said.

“He ate his tea then he fell asleep on the couch. I just thought it was flu.

“He was complaining that his elbow hurt, but that he was aching all over as well.”

On Tuesday, she became concerned when he had a fever and cold hands and feet, and she called a 24-hour advice line.

She was told he had the symptoms of a bug and should rest, but his condition rapidly deteriorated.

“An hour later I rang an ambulance for him,” she said.

“There were no outward signs yet, but his elbow had started to swell up.

“He had been fighting it for four days.”

Doctors at Bishop Auckland General Hospital confirmed sepsis and transferred Mr Hudspeth to Darlington, where he died the next day.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and an inquest is expected to be opened into his death by coroner Andrew Tweddle this week.

Miss Maughan believes the dog attack, which took place in Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland, could be responsible.

“It locked onto Steve’s arm and I think he took a knock when he was trying to get it off,” she said.

“He just said it jumped on him out of nowhere while he had his ipod on and it wasn’t on a lead.

“The doctors asked me if he had taken a knock at work, but this is the only knock he had and it was exactly the same place as the swelling.”

Mr Hudspeth, a warehouse worker at Westgate Department Store, spent months secretly building a Tardis for six-year-old Nathan.

It was a labour of love by Mr Hudspeth, who worked on the Tardis during the evenings and at weekends to replicate the smallest of details.

Mr Hudspeth also leaves behind his one-year-old son Finlay, sister Michelle, 26, brothers Paul and Adam, 32 and 18 respectively, and mother Pauline Stockton, who lives in Staindrop.

A statement released on behalf of Mr Hudspeth’s mother and siblings said: “He was a much-looked-up-to big brother and a much-loved son.”

A funeral will be held on Friday, at 10.15am, at Darlington Crematorium.