Despite three of his friends and fellow members of his RAF squadron battling to save him for 45 minutes, David Croft passed away shortly after arriving at hospital.

He had appeared fit and healthy and was father to two girls from a previous marriage.

On July 18, Barnack Cricket Club will host a memorial match between Mr Croft's squadron from RAF Wittering and a Barnack Select XI - details below
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It is more than a year since the tragedy, but his devastated partner, Cindy Quirk, has only now felt able to speak of the loss of her "soulmate".

She is helping to stage a charity cricket match and auction in his memory and hopes to raise cash for Help for Heroes, which supports wounded soldiers.

It was a cause close to Mr Croft's heart in his role as armourer for 5131 Bomb Disposal Squadron, based at RAF Wittering, Peterborough.

He had also served in Kandahar, Afghanistan, twice with two RAF regiments, and had been in the forces for almost 20 years.

A keen sportsman, he played for Barnack Cricket Club, near Stamford, and had a passion for motorbikes

Ms Quirk (35) met her boyfriend on an internet dating site in 2005.

They had a whirlwind romance and moved in together just four months after meeting – with Ms Quirk writing to him every day for three months while he was serving in Kandahar.

She said: "He was a big man – 6ft 3ins tall and 18st, but with a big heart. He would do anything for anybody.

"After he died, a good friend asked if I would mind if they put his bike outside the house.

"They put lots of flowers around it."

Recalling that fateful evening of February 9, 2007, she told how Mr Croft had set off to play airsoft in Louth with friends.

She was expecting him back in the early hours as it was a long way from their home in Town End Close, Wittering.

But at 8.30pm, there was a knock on the door that would change her life forever.

She said: "It was his sergeant. He didn't want a duty officer to go, because he knew I'd be shocked.

"He took me into the car and said Dave had collapsed and was in hospital.

"We were on our way, then a quarter of the way into the journey, I got a call to say he had passed away.

"It was an aortic aneurysm. There was no warning at all.

"Three of his friends fought to save his life that night. They gave him CPR and put an airway in. I will never be able to thank them enough."

Mr Croft's funeral was held at a hanger at RAF Wittering, and a close friend rode his treasured bike to the service.

The cricket match idea was hatched at an emotional gathering the day after he died.

Ms Quirk said: "Everybody congregated in the bar to remember him the day after he died. I didn't know what else to do. It was a random day, but fantastic.

"One of the players at the cricket club said let's have a match for him."

On July 18, Barnack Cricket Club will host a memorial match between Mr Croft's squadron from RAF Wittering and a Barnack Select XI, from 6pm.
There will also be an auction of cricket memorabilia.
Bids by text or e-mail can be made now, and the auction closes at 5pm, on July 17.
Among the impressive lots are a framed signed photo of the 2007 England Test Squad, who played the West Indies.
After the match, there will be a fancy dress disco and barbecue.
For details, call 07946 054127, or e-mail CindyQuirk72@aol.com