A county councillor has called for a full investigation into the death of a father found dead in a Great Yarmouth hotel.

Eastern Daily Press: The Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South, Great Yarmouth.Picture: James BassThe Victory Hotel on Nelson Road South, Great Yarmouth.Picture: James Bass (Image: (C) Archant Norfolk 2015)

Emidio Dos Santos - known as Emi - was found dead in the Victory Hotel in Nelson Road South on October 22. It is believed the 43-year-old had been dead for around five days and a postmortem found he had died of bronchial pneumonia and malnutrition.

His death was certified as natural causes, but UKIP councillor Jonathan Childs has dismissed this conclusion.

Mr Childs who represents the East Flegg ward - which includes Winterton where Mr Dos Santos' extended family live - said: 'I am shocked and saddened by the horrific news that a human being can starve to death in Great Yarmouth in 2015, I urge the coroner to hold a full inquest as in my view starvation is not natural causes.

'At County Hall we have to oversee massive cuts to frontline services, not because we want to but because central government has cut our budgets and because of this I have been warning of the Victorian-like poverty that is unfolding in Great Yarmouth, with people being sanctioned thus losing their financial support and benefits.'

Last week, his extended family said how they felt the 'system had failed' him, leaving his ten-year-old son without a father.

Winterton man Brian Pollard, whose daughter Nicola is the mother of Mr Dos Santos' son, had said that he didn't think he had known where to go for help.

Meanwhile, people who knew Mr Dos Santos have come forward to say they would have helped had they known, including Lauren Carter, whose mum had previously dated Mr Dos Santos,

'I knew him for around five years,' said Miss Carter, 24. 'He was such a lovely guy, so bubbly, so friendly.

'He and my Mum separated, and sometimes when that happens people won't talk to each other, but he was never like that. He'd stop and say hi in the street, he would never walk past or ignore me.'

'I just wish he'd have let someone know how bad things were, because if he was struggling to access services I would have helped him, or had him round for dinner or something.'

'It's such a sad situation for everyone involved,' Miss Carter added.

Memories of Mr Dos Santos, who arrived in the UK from Portugal 12 years ago, were also shared on social media, with many remembering working with him. Mr Dos Santos had worked in pharmaceuticals and at the Birds Eye Factory, in Lowestoft.

Tracey Cook had worked with Mr Dos Santos, she said: 'Emi's English was very good but he was still turned down for jobs. I spoke to him a few months ago and he said he had applied for numerous jobs but had not heard back.

'I worked in a pharmaceutical company with Emi back in 2006 and he was one of the most hard-working people I know, always doing overtime at weekends to provide for his family.

'Unfortunately he became very ill and had no option but to give up work. The system has failed him.

'I just wish he had contacted me when things got bad so as I could have helped. I feel I have failed him as well.'

Maria Stewart, whose daughter went to school with Mr Dos Santos' son, said: 'I'm going to miss his lovely smile and little chats. When you passed Emi in the street he would give you the biggest smile and wave and ask how you were.

'He was like a breath of fresh air really because if you felt low seeing him would soon have you smiling. I'm thinking of his son at this sad time.'

A funeral was held for Mr Dos Santos in Caister on Wednesday, November 11, and he was buried in the Pollard's family plot.