Popular reporter found dead in bed
By Miles Godfrey
Comment
The sports community in Sussex has been thrown into mourning after the death of a well known reporter.
Ben Steppel, 37, was found dead in his bed at his Worthing property on Tuesday morning.
Mr Steppel, the sports editor of the Chichester Observer and previously a sports reporter with the Worthing Herald, was well known and liked across Sussex.
advertisementHe had previously worked in radio with BBC Radio Sussex and Spirit FM.
Mr Steppel also worked as a football referee and as a cricket umpire.
He was a regular church goer with East Worthing Baptist Churchwhere he played the piano.
It is thought he may have died from a heart attack in his sleep or suffered a bout of epilepsy.
Colleagues found Mr Steppel in bed after he failed to arrive for work in Chichester on Monday morning.
Sussex Police confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. A post mortem examination of his body is to be carried out and an inquest may be held.
Jon Buss, the editor of the Worthing Herald, led the tributes.
He said: "Ben was a self-taught journalist who mastered new technology at a time when the industry was going through great change.
"He worked hard, took responsibility and, the mark of a true professional, invariably struggled-in even if he didn't feel too well. He didn't want to let anyone down.
"I last saw him a couple of weeks ago in Warwick Street. He was proud of the fact that he had lost a couple of stone. He said he felt all-the-better for it."
East Worthing Baptist minister Steve Lomas added: "Ben was young people-orientated and a very gifted, exuberant and enthusiastic musician on our piano. He played by ear. He did not read music but he could play anything you asked. He leaves a big gap."
By Miles Godfrey
Comment
The sports community in Sussex has been thrown into mourning after the death of a well known reporter.
Ben Steppel, 37, was found dead in his bed at his Worthing property on Tuesday morning.
Mr Steppel, the sports editor of the Chichester Observer and previously a sports reporter with the Worthing Herald, was well known and liked across Sussex.
advertisementHe had previously worked in radio with BBC Radio Sussex and Spirit FM.
Mr Steppel also worked as a football referee and as a cricket umpire.
He was a regular church goer with East Worthing Baptist Churchwhere he played the piano.
It is thought he may have died from a heart attack in his sleep or suffered a bout of epilepsy.
Colleagues found Mr Steppel in bed after he failed to arrive for work in Chichester on Monday morning.
Sussex Police confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. A post mortem examination of his body is to be carried out and an inquest may be held.
Jon Buss, the editor of the Worthing Herald, led the tributes.
He said: "Ben was a self-taught journalist who mastered new technology at a time when the industry was going through great change.
"He worked hard, took responsibility and, the mark of a true professional, invariably struggled-in even if he didn't feel too well. He didn't want to let anyone down.
"I last saw him a couple of weeks ago in Warwick Street. He was proud of the fact that he had lost a couple of stone. He said he felt all-the-better for it."
East Worthing Baptist minister Steve Lomas added: "Ben was young people-orientated and a very gifted, exuberant and enthusiastic musician on our piano. He played by ear. He did not read music but he could play anything you asked. He leaves a big gap."
