A mourning woman has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her “bubbly” brother who died after being hit by a lorry outside of his local pub in Stoke Newington.
Mehmet Suleyman, 72, was known as a regular customer at the Rochester Castle on Stoke Newington High Street.
It started off as a regular day for him on May 14, as he spent it with his sister Zaris, before the two went to the Wetherspoon watering hole to enjoy some beverages and take in the atmosphere at one of his favourite pubs.
Zaris decided to leave nearly half-an-hour before Mehmet briefly went outside, when he was struck by a lorry just before 2.40pm.
He was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital, where he died the next day.
His sister described him as a “party man” saying that “he was just a bubbly person”.
She exclusively told the Hackney Gazette: “He was always a happy person, he was never miserable. He was always happy-go-lucky.
“He liked his little drink as well and mucking about with the boys – my nephews and that.”
Mehmet, a dad of one daughter, lived in Green Lanes and then moved out closer into Stoke Newington after being married.
Most weekends Mehmet enjoyed winding down at the Rochester Castle, with his sister adding that “most of his life was in that pub”.
Following his death, she was told by a worker that they’d “never seen a bad side of him” in the roughly 40 years of him attending.
Mehmet lived his life working in a factory manufacturing ladies shoes – as he started his first shift at the age of 16 and continued there decades later until his eventual retirement.
“They were quite nice and always fashionable,” Zaris noted, “He loved it.”
Being the kind-hearted and fun social animal that he is, he was looking forward to an upcoming barbeque that was set to take place just days after his death.
They’d attended the same event a few years ago, and Zaris fondly remembers the way “he was so happy” and dancing full of energy.
After being struck, a woman reportedly stood by his side and looked after him until an ambulance and air ambulance arrived.
His sister was later alerted at around 9pm that he was in hospital, despite her being with him earlier that day.
He died in hospital the day after on May 15.
A bunch of flowers were laid outside the pub, along with a picture of Mehmet, by many of his loved ones.
“I love you and miss you.”
These flowers have since been removed.
The family hope to bury Mehmet promptly once the body is returned, however they are unable at this time as police investigations continue,
Mehmet leaves behind his daughter.
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