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Sydney DJ dies suddenly during performance at popular nightclub

The crowd at a popular Sydney nightclub were horrified when a DJ collapsed without warning in the middle of his set.

Alf Nguyen was performing at Newtown’s Marlborough Hotel at the Tokyo Sing Song club on July 13 when the 42-year-old went into cardiac arrest and suddenly dropped to the floor.

Mr Nguyen leaves behind his wife, Rita McCulloch and five-year-old son, Chauncey.

Alf Nguyen DJ-ing at a nightclub.
Alf Nguyen was in the middle of a DJ set when he suddenly collapsed and died. Source: GoFundMe

Friends and fellow DJs have posted tributes online saying the musician died doing what he loved.

“DJing and filling the dance floor under his artist name DJ A.L.F, I can't say enough about the sadness I feel for him,” hip hop artist Urthboy wrote on Facebook, adding that they had worked together in the past.

“He co-produced a song that was so dear to me that I gave it to my wife on our wedding day!” he said.

Mr Nguyen was described as “health and diet conscious” and on a GoFundMe page set up to help his family, it was announced that an autopsy revealed he had died from advanced coronary heart disease.

A family photo of Alf Nguyen, his wife Rita McCulloch and his five-year-old son Chauncey.
Alf Nguyen (left) with his wife, Rita McCulloch (centre) and five-year-old son Chauncey (right). Source: GoFundMe

“This sudden and devastating loss has hit all those who knew Alf, but none more so than his family, especially his loving wife,” it said on the page.

The site has so far raised more than $48,000 which will go to Ms McCulloch for “funeral costs, living expenses, household bills, and care for five-year-old Chauncey, who was recently diagnosed with Autism.”

“Alf was a husband, father, son, brother, cousin, friend and hard-working colleague,” the page reads.

The DJ was well respected and loved within the music community.

Australian performer Ozi Batla credits Mr Nguyen with helping him start his career.

“The honest truth is, if I'd never met Alf, there would have been no Ozi Batla,” he wrote on social media.

“He would have blushed and laughed his massive infectious laugh if I ever told him that,” he added.

Mr Nguyen at a nightclub smiling with friends (left) and with his son (right)
"He was always wearing a smile, ever happy to see mates" the GoFundMe page reads. Mr Nguyen was a father to five-year-old Chauncey (right). Source: GoFundMe

Ms McCulloch urged those following the story of her husband’s death to get a check up.

“Despite Alf being health and diet conscious you cannot in some cases outrun your risk factors,” she said.

“Please if you have any concerns around your own health or you have a family history of cardiac issues, feel tired or have any irregular heart beats, fainting or pain please do not hold off seeing your doctor and also we urge you to have a stress test done as well as blood tests.

“Please take care of your hearts because we heart you,” she wrote on the GoFundMe page.

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