THE PARTNER of an 'exceptionally kind and caring father' who died at the Witney Music Festival this weekend has heaped praise on festival organisers and the emergency services. 

The event had to be temporarily stopped and main stage crowds evacuated on Saturday afternoon when Mark Pordage from Worthing, 43, suffered a 'suspected cardiac arrest'. Sadly, he later died in hospital.

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Partner Nicola Beales paid tribute to the 'incredible' and 'overwhelming' response to the incident, and said she 'could not thank emergency services and festival organisers enough' for their attempts to save him. 

She added: "Mark was an exceptionally kind and caring man, who put everybody first. (He was) a successful teacher and father to a two-year-old daughter.

"Mark was a regular badminton player and enjoyed quizzes and attending music festivals."

She continued: "This was his first time to the Witney Festival, and he commented on how well it was run and set up.

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"Mark will be greatly missed by all who were honoured to have known him."

In a statement thanking South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police on Facebook, festival organisers wrote: "We would like to send our best wishes to to all family and friends of the patient and we will remain available for contact should they need it."