The Mens Room barber Darren Gilmore remembered after sudden overseas death

An overseas trip for a much-loved Adelaide barber has turned to tragedy after he suddenly died from a mystery illness.

Tributes are flowing for Adelaide barber Darren Gilmore, pictured here with wife Fiona.

For almost 15 years, Darren Gilmore was a regular fixture at The Mens Room barbershop on Hindley St.

After relocating to Adelaide from his native Leeds in the United Kingdom in 2008, Mr Gilmore began cutting hair at the popular business and never left.

But little over a month ago, an overseas trip to visit family turned tragic when Mr Gilmore suddenly passed away after a mystery infection.

Darren Gilmore with his work colleagues outside their Hindley St shop. Picture: Supplied

Tributes are flowing for Adelaide barber Darren Gilmore who died suddenly during a trip to the UK in March. Picture: Supplied

On March 16, Mr Gilmore, 55, began having seizures and was rushed to hospital where doctors discovered an infection had spread from an unknown location.

“They couldn’t find the source of the infection unfortunately,” Mr Gilmore’s wife Fiona said.

Ms Gilmore said her husband slipped into unconsciousness and never woke up.

The next day, Mr Gilmore’s body began to fail as sepsis set in before Ms Gilmore made the difficult decision say goodbye to her husband.

“I didn’t want to sit and watch him go through a cardiac arrest so myself and my family, we just decided to let him go peacefully and with dignity,” Ms Gilmore said through tears.

“As far as they (the doctors) could tell, he wasn’t in any pain or distress.

“We sat in the room with him talking, chatting to him and … he passed away peacefully and with dignity.

Darren with his wife Fiona. Picture: Supplied

Darren Gilmore from The Mens Room with his work mates.

“I was talking to him while he was sedated in ICU and telling him whenever he was ready he could go.

“I let him go then.”

Mr Gilmore’s funeral was held in his hometown of Leeds, where a “packed” church farewelled him.

“He was a Leeds lad through and through,” Ms Gilmore said.

The Mens Room owner Adam Newman, who worked alongside Mr Gilmore for 13 years, said he and colleague Christian Salapatas were “devastated” at Mr Gilmore’s death, remembering him as a “great bloke” with a “heart of gold”.

“He was always there to support and back me up,” Mr Newman said.

“The last 13 years it was like a marriage.

“I spent more time with him than anyone in my life.

Mr Newman and Mr Salapatas joined dozens of others at The Elephant British Pub in early April to farewell Mr Gilmore.

“He was a great bloke,” Mr Newman said.