Shanghai music teacher Patrick Sabberton dies after stroke

Patrick Sabberton, 43, was brought home to Colchester from a hospital in Shanghai after he fell into a coma on January 12 last year.

Medical experts found the dad of two, who taught the violin at a British international school, had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

The catastrophic illness occurs when blood from an artery suddenly begins bleeding into the brain.

Missed - Patrick Sabberton was loved by his students in Shanghai (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Sabberton made it home in autumn last year after his family raised £180,000 to fund a gruelling repatriation journey from China.

But his condition rapidly began to deteriorate and the musician died in Colchester on February 9.

For news updates straight to your inbox, sign up to our court and crime newsletter here.

Mr Sabberton’s mother, Ingeborg, said she felt his body could no lon

ger deal with the pressure his illness was putting it under.

“When he came back here there was not much hope for him at all,” said Mrs Sabberton, a piano teacher.

Talented - Patrick Sabberton began playing the violin from the age of four (Image: Newsquest)

“There was all the stress in getting him back to the UK but we didn’t realise just how bad he was.

“We hoped he would improve but he did not.”

Former Alderman Blaxill School pupil Mr Sabberton was a father to two boys, aged 12 and eight.

Having taken up the violin aged four, his musical talents saw him rise from Saturday morning lessons at Colchester Institute to a job at Dulwich College in Shanghai.

Former pupil - the violin teacher attended Alderman Blaxill School which was shut in 2014 (Image: Newsquest)

“He loved his violin and he loved teaching his students. He was so gifted and talented,” continued Mrs Sabberton.

“The students he had in Shanghai really, really missed him. It was heartbreaking as we all knew he was never going to be better to go back to teach.

“We were very humbled by their outpouring of support and thought they must have really liked Patrick.

“He was always so proud of what the children could do.”

Mr Sabberton was sent to a specialist home in his final days so he could be surrounded by his family.

His mother added: “When he died he died very peacefully. We were so grateful he was near to us and we could visit him.”

We passionately believe in providing unrivalled quality journalism and value for money.

With a digital subscription, you can access our exclusive, insightful and trustworthy local news from just £1 a week.

If you are not already subscribing, sign up today to get instant access to our trusted local coverage - and an ad-light experience - check what package works best for you here.