A Selby woman was in deep shock today after being struck by three tragedies within a month.

Hilda Keenan, 49, still recovering from a breast cancer operation and the death of her mother, was told by police on Sunday that her husband, David, had collapsed and died while playing golf.

Mother-of-three Mrs Keenan, of Charles Street, Selby, said: "I still can't believe what's happened. It's just one nightmare after another.

"I just feel totally devastated and without the support of my family I don't know how I would cope."

Grandfather Mr Keenan, 53, collapsed on the third fairway at Drax Golf Club on Sunday afternoon while taking part in the annual Captain's Day match.

Two fellow members tried to resuscitate him but he was dead before paramedics arrived. It is believed he died from a heart attack.

Club captain and chairman Graham Painter said: "He seemed perfectly fine, and it came like a bolt out of the blue.

"We managed to get his pulse back once but there was nothing more we could do. We cancelled the competition and shut the golf course."

Mrs Keenan, whose mother, Gwen Byrne, of Eggborough, died a month ago from a terminal illness, is still undergoing radio therapy for breast cancer after an operation at York Hospital.

She said her husband, a former football and rugby player, had had a major heart attack in 1990, but had recovered reasonably well.

A former lorry driver and miner, he retired early following the heart attack.

She said: "He was a wonderful husband and father. We had been together 30 years and were hoping we'd be together for another 30.

"David refused to let his heart problems get him down. He loved his golf and played off a two handicap.

"He was over the moon when he broke the course record at Drax last year."

Mrs Keenan wiped away her tears as she recalled how she had video-taped Manchester United's 6-0 win over West Ham in Sunday's FA Cup match.

She said: "He was a big Man United fan but, unfortunately, he never got to see the game. I was expecting him home for his dinner when the police knocked on the door."

Mr Keenan's daughter, Shelley, 28, said: "We're all still in deep shock. He was the best dad in the world and we loved him to bits."

Updated: 15:31 Tuesday, January 28, 2003