EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a fun-loving chef found dead at his flat after inhaling dangerous nitrous oxide – better known as laughing gas.

Jordan Guise, known to his friends and family as Jord, died after taking the legal high at his flat in France where he had been working as a head chef since August.

The popular Kidderminster 21-year-old, who had just found out he was going to be a dad for the first time, was found in his flat by his boss on February 6.

His parents Leesa Malpas and Michael Guise and brother Kyle have been left devastated by Jordan’s death.

They had spoken to him just two days before, when he broke the news he was to be a father.
The baby is due in September.

“We were laughing and joking with him,” recalled Ms Malpas, a manager at Gymophobics in Blackwell Street. “He phoned and told us on the Tuesday and died on the Thursday.

“Jordan didn’t turn up for work on Thursday so Johnny [Jordan’s boss] went round and found him in his flat. We do know that he died painlessly. He was very relaxed.”

She added: “The cause of Jordan’s sudden demise is ironic – it was a substance that is freely available and a legal high – laughing gas – that actually took his life.”

The former Bewdley High School and Franche First School pupil, who celebrated
his 21st birthday weeks before his death, was working at La Charniere restaurant in Beziers, after carving out a successful career at The Granary Hotel, Shenstone.

He quickly rose through the ranks in the French restaurant, where he was offered
the job of head chef within just two weeks of starting.

“He was very popular,” said Ms Malpas, speaking at her
Kidderminster home, where Jordan’s 21st birthday balloon is still up.

“He was always happy and jokey and was always happy when he was with friends.”

Mr Guise added: “Cooking, sleeping and friends – that’s what he enjoyed."

Ms Malpas said Jordan was “chuffed to bits” when he got the job in France.

“Jordan loved his new life and career and although away from friends and family was
determined to make something of himself ,” she said.

“He lived his dream – to be a head chef in France. He was passionate about his work and was very proud of himself, as were his family, friends and work colleagues.”

She added they had now been left wondering what he could have made of his life and career were it not for his early death.

“He was a head chef at 21 – that doesn’t happen,” added Mr Guise. “Where would he have been at 30?”

The family say they are taking comfort in the fact they have “no regrets” about the final time they spent with Jordan, when he came home for his 21st in January.

“We spoke to him and saw him,” said Ms Malpas. “Kyle organised
his birthday in Cheltenham. He had a fantastic 21st.”

She added the mother of his unborn baby had now moved back to England.

A facebook page has been set up to raise £3,500 to cover the cost of returning his body to England. Donations can be made by visiting the Bring Jord Home page.

Jordan’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Church in Kidderminster next Monday at 11.30am followed by a “final goodbye” at the Talbot, Bewdley.

Ms Malpas said a verdict of accidental death had been recorded by a French coroner. An inquest
in England has been opened and adjourned.