A DETECTIVE who won a commendation for his work on a sensitive case has died suddenly from a heart attack, aged 45.

Detective Constable Vince Myhan became ill at home after suffering his second heart attack, and died in hospital shortly after arrival.

It was while recovering from his first heart attack that he met his wife, Karen, who was one of the cardiac nurses who treated him.

DC Myhan became ill at their home in the early hours of Wednesday. He was rushed to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, but later died.

DC Myhan served as a special constable, before joining Durham Police in October 1991.

His first beat was in Bishop Auckland and he spent much of his career in south Durham.

In 2005, he moved to Darlington, continuing to work on the beat. Later, he served in the offender management unit, vulnerability unit and CID.

Last July, he received a commendation for his work on a difficult case which led to a Darlington man being sentenced to a minimum of ten years in prison for the attempted murder of his baby son.

One of his most recent cases was that of 11-year-old Kieran Snee, who suffered serious head injuries after an incident in a Darlington playground in April.

Detective Sergeant Jim Cunningham, who worked with him, said his unexpected death had been a great shock to his colleagues.

He said: "Vince was the life and soul of the office and any party - he was someone who put 100 per cent into everything he did.

"His work ethic was tremendous and he was always determined to treat with dignity and respect everybody he had dealings with. Nothing was ever too much trouble and whoever he spoke to, he made them feel as if they were the most important person in the world.

"A s if to show what sort of man Vince was, he continued to laugh and joke with the ambulance crew and the staff at the hospital. He realised it was serious, however he wanted to try and put people at ease."

Chief Superintendent Andy Reddick said: "Vince was a larger than life character in so many ways.

"He lit up the police station and brightened the working lives of his colleagues."

Arrangements for the funeral are expected to be confirmed early next week.