The family of a 21-year-old Cradley Heath man who died unexpectedly have paid tribute to a “livewire” character who lived his life surrounded by friends.

Jake Foster, of Dingle Avenue, was found unconscious in bed by his father Stephen at around 8am on August 4.

Despite Stephen’s desperate attempts to revive his son, Jake was later pronounced dead at Russells Hall Hospital.

A post mortem has failed to find a cause of death and further tests are still being carried out.

Today Stephen and Jake’s mother Lisa said they were still stunned by their son’s death, which had come “out of the blue”.

Stephen, a mechanic, said: “As far as we know Jake was in perfect health.

“This was totally unexpected and everyone who knew Jake is devastated.”

After attending Caslon Primary School and Cradley High School Jake went on to work in various warehouse and labouring jobs, including two years at Fibre Form Ltd in Halesowen.

Though unemployed at the time of his death, he had recently completed training in forklift driving which he had hoped would better his chances of finding a job.

Lisa, 40, remembers her son as a joker who loved “winding up” his sisters Laura, 19, and Zoe, 16.

Jake – a keen Manchester United supporter – also had a 19-month-old son Connor, and had recently become an uncle to Zoe’s 12-week-old daughter Alicia whom he affectionately called ‘Lissy’.

Lisa, who lives in Halesowen, added: “Jake was full of energy – a real livewire – and had so many friends we couldn’t keep up with him.

“We can’t believe he’s gone.”

An inquest into Jake’s death was opened and adjourned on August 7.

His funeral will be held at Rowley Regis Crematorium at 11.30am on August 14 followed by a wake at Cradley Heath Liberal Club.