Tributes have poured in for a popular fireman and talented footballer who died suddenly this week.

Alvin Baker was just 45 when he passed away on Thursday. He had been a member of the service for ten years.

His shocked colleagues in the Fire Department spoke yesterday of their loss as Fire Safety Week was postponed by a week out of respect for Mr Baker.

Divisional Officer Dana Lovell said Mr Baker was “loved and respected by all”.

He added: “Alvin’s death took us completely by surprise. We have still not come to terms with it. Words really are so inadequate to describe Alvin and the kind of guy he was.

“He was fun-loving and witty; a real joker who made everyone laugh.

“I have no hesitation in saying that Alvin was a firefighter who became energised when there was a job to do. But, moreover, he was the kind of guy that thrived on all the work that needed to be done after the fire was put out.

“He was an incredibly hard worker.

“He will be a terrible miss to his colleagues and the service.

“It is going to be impossible to fill the Number 43 slot because there will never be another like Alvin.”

Chief Fire Officer Lloyd Burchall said: “We have made the decision to postpone the Fire Safety Week as we are experiencing the unexpected passing of a brother firefighter, Alvin Baker, which has and will continue to impact on the Fire Service as a whole.

“At this time, we would also like to share our condolences with his family and friends.”

Meanwhile, a post on The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Facebook page said: “Heavenly Father, we ask you to send the Comforter to help us through this difficult time. We have lost a father, brother, son, colleague, and a friend to many (in and out of the Service).

“Lord surround our Fire Service family and his personal family with the support we all will need now and in the upcoming days, weeks and months. Thank you for loaning Alvin to us and we will forever cherish the memories in our hearts.”

Outside of his job as a fireman, Mr Baker was a well-known and respected footballer.

He started his senior career as a teenager with Paget Lions Community Club in the second tier of local football, where he evolved into a formidable defender before assuming a midfield role.

“Alvin came into our set-up in his late teens and was a very good talent and a respectable role model for the younger players,” Mike Stovell, the Paget Lions president, said.

“He had good relationships with the guys in the Ord Road neighbourhood, where he grew up, and I don’t have anything negative to say about him.”

Ornette Fough, the former Paget defender, said: “Alvin was one of the most competitive people around and he was always a team player.

“He was one of the sparks of the team.

“Whenever he was on, the team was on and we had some good times.”

After grooming his skills at Paget, Mr Baker joined Hamilton Parish where he earned a First Division championship medal and had the distinction of playing in the 2003 First Division Shield final and the 2005 FA Cup Final — Parish’s first appearance in a major cup final.

He also had a stint as Parish’s captain.

“When Baker left and went to Hamilton Parish, it broke my heart because he was the first Paget player that I admired as a young boy,” Tariq Smith, the former Paget goalkeeper, said.

“He was somebody I loved to watch play coming up as a young boy because I admired his work ethic — he always kept running. He was a very fit guy and that’s why his death is a shock to me.”

Mr Stovell added: “We were sorry to see Alvin go.

“But he went on to greener pastures and I believe he actually helped Parish get promoted and played a few years in the Premier Division.”

Joe Lathan, assistant coach of Parish’s senior team and a former team-mate of Mr Baker, helped to lure the late footballer away from Paget.

“I asked him to come from Paget and I really had to talk to him and he eventually came down and we welcomed him with open arms,” Mr Lathan said. “Alvin was a good player to have on your team. He had your back in every aspect, was very determined and didn’t stand for any ignorance. Alvin is a big part of the Parish family. He came in and got involved in the club and was even our secretary at one time.

“This is a big loss to the Parish family and also the Paget family because that’s where he came from and I have to respect that because I took one of their best players. They built him and I took him.”

More recently, Mr Baker played for Parish in the Masters Division.

He returned to the team this season from injury, scoring against St George’s All-Stars at Wellington Oval last month.

“He just started playing again because he had suffered an injury last season,” said team-mate Corey Hill.

“He just got back with the boys on Saturdays and that was something we all enjoyed — playing together on Saturdays.

“Alvin was such a nice guy; everybody loved to be around him because he was a lot of fun. He is definitely going to be a big loss, not only to our team, but the whole community and, on behalf of our Masters team, we want to send our condolences to his family and friends.”

A tribute involving Mr Baker’s son, Marley, who plays for Parish’s under-14 team, will be held at Parish’s Masters match with St David’s at Wellington Oval today, beginning at 1pm.

Michael Dunkley, the Premier and National Security Minister, called Mr Baker’s death “a tragic loss we all share”.

He added: “Firefighter Baker was a popular, professional and highly valued member of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service and I know that ‘family’ is today mourning his loss.

“At this time, however, our hearts and prayers must be with Mr Baker’s immediate family and friends, who will so keenly feel the pain of his sudden passing. Along with other members of the BFRS, Mr Baker was one of those individuals who worked extremely hard to help residents after the recent storms.”