Newly-engaged father-of-two was found dead on his sofa by his four-year-old daughter just hours after fiancée found him sleepwalking

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A father-of-two was found dead on his sofa by his daughter hours after he was discovered sleepwalking around his house. 

Newly engaged Steven Lockwood, 42, who had no known serious health problems, had been sleeping on the couch after waking his family up during frequent bouts of sleepwalking.

His partner Donna Brown found him wandering around their living room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, on Thursday and walked him back to the sofa and lay him down. 

But when his daughter Katalina, four, tried to wake him the next morning, she was unable to. 

Father-of-two Steven Lockwood (right) was found dead on his sofa by his daughter hours after he was discovered sleepwalking around his house. He is pictured with his fiancee's father Jim Gough

Steven Lockwood and his daughter Katalina. He was found dead by his daughter hours after he was discovered sleepwalking around his house

Paramedics spent almost an hour trying to revive the mechanical engineer but he was pronounced dead.  

Ms Brown, who was due to marry Mr Lockwood next year, said his sudden and unexpected death had left 'a huge hole on this Earth'.

She said: 'He had been poorly but we just thought it was man 'flu. His sleepwalking got so bad that we had to lock him out of the bedroom.

'I was in bed but I could hear noises and then I went downstairs he was in the kitchen trying to drink water.

'His eyes were bulging so I walked him back to the settee and lay him down..

'He was talking gibbering about using a machine so I knew he was just having a sleepwalking episode. He thought he was at work.

'Then, at about 6am, our daughter Katalina got up for breakfast and tried to get him up for work. She couldn't wake him and neither could I.

'I had to convince myself I wasn't dreaming. The paramedics were here within five minutes but there was nothing they could do.

Mr Lockwood, 42, and his daughter five-month-old Isabella. Mr Lockwood, 42, who had no known serious health problems, had been sleeping on the couch after waking his family up during frequent bouts of sleepwalking

'They worked on him for 50 minutes, but to be honest I think that was just for my benefit. I knew he was gone.'

The popular Manchester City fan had two daughters with his fiancee - Katalina, four, and five-month-old Isabella - and was stepdad to Donna's other two daughters, Sophie Brown, 19, and Abigail James, 11.

He proposed in June and the couple were making plans for a wedding in 2016 after almost five years together.

Ms Brown said: 'He loved all of them like a father. He was the kindest, sweetest man. We can't understand what has happened.

'I am agoraphobic and can't leave the house. He knew that when he met me but he loved me anyway and although he enjoyed a night out with the lads, he made the effort to stay in with me too.

'We thought about having the wedding in October but I wasn't well enough so were just getting everything prepared for when I was better.

'We met through a mutual friend, Helen, and just hit it off. Then she made us godparents to her sons, Jack and James.

'He was such a wonderful person. He worked for Grosvenor Chemicals for 20 years, since he was an apprentice, and they are just in shock.

'He took two days off with the 'flu and was due to go back to work the morning he died.

'I can't believe how many messages of support we've had. I knew he was popular but it's been overwhelming.'

Ms Lockwood- known by the nickname Stigger - is also survived by his brother, Jim, and mother Maureen.

His stepdaughter Sophie has raised more than £2,700 towards Steven's funeral.

Sophie said: 'He was an absolute saint. Mum's not really had the best luck with partners and Steven was the first one who was worthy of the title of stepdad.

'I was at university in Lincoln when mum called me and it was just chaos to be honest. Everyone is just stunned.

'We don't know yet if the sleepwalking had anything to do with it but it's awful how mum and Katalina found him on the sofa.'

A post mortem examination proved inconclusive and now an inquest into his death will be held at a later date.