Cornelius Koundouris with daughter Clio

FRIENDS of a Primrose Hill church administrator have started a crowdfunder appeal after he died of a heart condition suddenly, aged 38, during a holiday where he planned to propose to his partner.

Cornelius Koundouris, who was a church administrator at St Mary’s Church, died on Friday in Greece.

He was back in the country where he grew up for a family wedding.

Mr Koundouris had intended to surprise Celyn Cooke, who also works at the church, with a proposal in Mykonos.

The couple, who had had taken their baby, Clio, with them, met after Mr Koundouris moved to London age 17 to pursue creative interests and his particular love for music. Mr Koundouris had a chronic heart condition which had required lifesaving surgery as a baby.

He went on to have major heart operations and a pacemaker fitted. He came back from clinical death twice when his heart stopped beating. Mr Koundouris was with his partner and their one-year-old when he died.

Cornelius and Celyn with their baby Clio

The money raised will go towards supporting Ms Cooke and their baby. It has already beaten the £10,000 target but organisers hope that more money will be donated to support them.

Rev Marjorie Brown from St Mary’s said: “Cornelius and Celyn were an inseparable couple, even working together in the same job, bringing their baby to work alongside them. They ran the office at St Mary’s Church, Primrose Hill, organising bookings, social events, lectures, concerts, services and the winter night shelter. “

“Many in the community knew and appreciated them both. Always ready with a helpful response, and normally with a smiley Clio in tow, they made everyone feel welcome. Cornelius, like Celyn, didn’t profess the Christian faith but he lived by its values.

“Cornelius had an amazing zest for life. He always appeared laid-back and was never thrown into panic, but just calmly sorted out any problems. He had a fantastic sense of humour. Having faced life-threatening illness throughout his life, he wasted no time but lived life to the full. He was a devoted and adoring dad.

“He planned to teach his daughter Greek and take her regularly to see her wider Greek family. He and Celyn had a wonderful partnership, balancing each other’s personalities and supporting each other through some challenging family tragedies.”

Details of the crowd­funder are at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/corneliuscelynclio