HE was only 20 when his dad suddenly died, but Daniel Welch knew he wanted to step up and be the father figure for his four younger siblings.
So the young welder moved back home to give his brother and sisters the same “stability, love and support” he had received from their dad growing up.
It is a role he has continued to play for 30 years — and today he has been named The Sun on Sunday’s World’s Best Dad.
Fighting back tears, Daniel, 50, told us: “Family is everything to me. We were always a very close family and Dad was a role model to me.
“Dad had been a brilliant father so I wanted to give my brother and sisters what I’d had growing up — stability, support and love.
“There were five of us kids and Mum left behind when he died. So I picked up the slack.
“I didn’t want them to miss out, and through the years I’ve continued to look after them as best I can.
“I’m beyond chuffed at winning. I’ve never won anything before.”
Daniel’s dad Richard was 43 when he took his own life after losing his job.
He also left behind wife Candy, then 42, two-year-old Bethany, Luke, nine, Sianne, 15, and 18-year-old Kirsty.
It was Kirsty who nominated her big brother for our title, which comes with nearly £3,000 of prizes.
Kirsty, now 49, of Bradfield, Essex, said: “Dads come in all sorts of shapes and sizes — and Daniel is a very special one.
“He’s an amazing person and, without him, things would have been very different for us.
“Daniel was just 20 when Dad died, but he stepped up and became an amazing father figure.
“Life hasn’t been easy. The loss is always with you.
“But Daniel is still looking after us all these decades later.
“He gave me away when I got married, guided all of us on our first cars and gave us relationship advice — although I didn’t always listen!”
Kirsty says that Daniel, from Harwich, Essex, has been their “rock” throughout their entire lives.
Just three years after their dad died, Sianne was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer and passed away two years later, aged 20.
Daniel said: “Overnight our world fell apart when Dad died.
“Back then mental health wasn’t spoken about and he didn’t give any indication of how bad things were for him.
“I was the one that found him and I was with Sianne when she took her last breath.
“Last week was the 26th anniversary of her death, so it’s really poignant that winning this prize has happened now.
“I’d like to think my dad and my sister are looking down on us.”
Daniel went on to work in railway safety, but quit that role to care for his own son Ethan, now 20, when he was diagnosed with autism and ADHD.
Daniel stepped up when our world fell apart and is still looking after us decades later. He’s amazing
Sister Kirsty
As well as caring for Ethan and daughter Yasmin, 21, a fashion student, he still looks after his siblings.
He said: “Just a few weeks ago, I did a dad role when Kirsty’s car wouldn’t start. She rang me and within ten minutes I was there. Now her children are starting to call me up as well.”
Kirsty says that Daniel has all the kindness that she remembers their father had.
She told us: “He is the mirror image of our dad in terms of his kindness. He made sure there was food on the table, he took the younger ones to school.
“In the early days he even helped change nappies and he’s just always been there.
“He has always supported me and, whenever we call him, he is there for us.
“He’s our world. I’m so proud of him and he’s definitely the world’s best dad in our eyes.”
BRITAIN’S top TV dad is beer-loving bozo Homer Simpson, a Freesat poll has revealed.
Del Boy from Only Fools And Horses was second, followed by Jim Royle of The Royle Family.
Meanwhile, Mafia boss Tony Soprano, from The Sopranos, came in at an unlikely ninth.
DADS have voted 1972 Mafia classic The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando, their top movie.
That was followed by 2001 epic The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, with 1986 blockbuster Top Gun starring Tom Cruise coming in third in the survey for Showcase Cinemas.
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
