A DEVASTATED mother has told of her heartache after she wished her son a happy 22nd birthday – and then never saw him again.

Tragic Paul Wilkins had started celebrations with two close friends in Pizza Hut in Bexleyheath Broadway when he collapsed at the table.

Desperate friends and restaurant staff kept him alive with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but the apparently healthy young man died an hour after arriving at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup on Friday, January 11.

His family say they have no idea how Paul – a Bexley council CCTV operator and Special Police Constable – could have died.

Shocked mother Pam Oates, 42, said: "We are all just devastated. We wished him happy birthday, went out to work and didn’t see him again.

"He was happy-go-lucky and there was no sign he was ill. Paul was very healthy. He only went to the doctor twice in his life. He was hardly even a drinker – he was a Pepsi Max kid.

"He went to the gym three times a week, went swimming and he was a very healthy eater. His death is a complete mystery to us."

Paul – who loved music, singing and entertaining people with Alan Partridge and Family Guy impressions – started DJing in his mum’s garage as a boy.

And "DJ Wilko" even set up his own mobile disco company when he was just 17.

His 13-year-old brother Mitch Oates said: "My brother was a legend. I loved him. As well as my brother, he was my best friend."

The dining room of the home Paul shared with his family in Swanley Road, Welling, is full of flowers and cards.

His mum added: "He was a wonderful son taken too soon. And to die on his birthday – what are the odds?"

A post-mortem has not revealed the cause of death. An inquest will be held.

As well as mum Pam and her husband Bill Oates, who have Mitch, Paul leaves his dad Stephen Wilkins, married to Debbie, and their two children.

His funeral takes place at 11am on Valentine's Day at Eltham Crematorium, then afterwards at the Blue Anchor in Bridgen Road, Bexley. Donations to Bexleyheath Police Cadets.