THE girlfriend of a Yeovil man who died during an asthma attack has revealed how she held him in her arms during his final minutes.

Mycila Austin, 25, awoke to find 43-year-old Tim Caines gasping for breath at their home in Highfield Road. Fearing for his life, she called the emergency services but paramedics were unable to save him and he died on Saturday, February 20.

Ms Austin, his partner of six years, claimed that the day before he died, father-of-seven Mr Caines was turned away by staff at Oaklands Surgery in Birchfield Road because he was 10 minutes late for a 5.40pm appointment. She has since filed a complaint.

She said he had struggled with the condition for two years.

"He suffered from asthma badly. He was in and out of hospital, and it kept getting worse. He lost a lot of weight," she said.

"On Friday he was bad. We went to the GP but the doctor wouldn't see him and he would not go to A&E. On Saturday morning he couldn't breathe. so I called 999. They sent a paramedic but there were problems getting the oxygen mask on and he died in my arms.

"He was my world, my heart, my best-friend, my soul. He did not have any enemies. He was just one of those people who got on with everyone.

"He lived for his kids. He adored his music and his car. He was a brilliant dad and a brilliant boyfriend. He was the best thing that ever happened to me and I loved him with all my heart. He was loved by so many people and all his friends loved him to pieces.

"We lived together for six years and we were at one point engaged. We did everything together. I thought we would last forever. He will always be with me. There won't be a day that goes past, I won't think of him.

Mourners flocked to Yeovil Crematorium on Tuesday to pay their respects to a man they described as "the life and soul of the party".

A former pupil of Buckler's Mead School, Mr Caines worked for Yeovil-based builders Bluestone Plc for eight years until he lost his job in October.

His former partner, Sarah Lloyd of Eastland Road, said he was a wonderful father to their five-year-old daughter Summer.

She said: "It is Summer I am sad for. It is going to leave a gap in her life."

The pair are planning to send up a balloon in memory to Mr Caines with a note reading: "Summer remembers this day as you flew away with the angels, but just know that I love you and you will always be in my heart. I miss you Daddy."

Four of his children, Jordan, Brooklyn, Ebony and Kirby Caines, emigrated to Australia with their mum and Mr Caines' former partner Clare Plumb Clark a year ago.

In a message on social networking site Facebook site Mrs Plumb Clark wrote: "Telling your babies that their daddy has sadly passed away has got to be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.

"I am so proud of them handling it so well and I am privileged to have been given such beautiful and amazing children. Thanks to you Tim. Rest in peace my darling. Hope you are in a better place and 'Rocking the Set', wherever that may be. Always in our hearts."

A lover of music and parties, friend Marion Mason said Mr Caines' motto was to "burn bright and live fast".

She said: "I had some really good times with him. There were lots of good times that we spent."

Mr Caines also leaves his mum Ann, sister Mandy and nephew Mike.

Paul Courtney, communications manager for NHS Somerset, was concerned to hear about Ms Austin's claims about Mr Caines being turned away from the surgery.

He said: "We would advise that relatives with any concerns contact the primary care trust through the Patient Advisory Liaison Service or the General Medical Council. As a guide, the NHS sets a target that someone should see a health care professional within 24 hours and a family doctor within 48 hours.

"If for whatever reason, a patient is unable to see a doctor on the day they wish to do so, it is always possible to go to the walk-in centre in Middle Street, Yeovil."

He was unable to comment specifically on behalf of the surgery as it was run by independent contractors for the NHS. No-one from the surgery was available for comment before the Western Gazette went to press.