<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A NSW police officer has died suddenly while on a beach holiday with his family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paul Matts, 37, from Orange in the NSW Central Tablelands region, had a medical episode while laughing and playing on the sand with his wife and four children on July 8, friends said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The medical episode proved to be fatal and he was unable to be revived.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/four-day-work-week-improves-worker-happiness-confidence-study-finds/7695eef3-c897-4264-868a-2aab865eafa3" rel="" target="" title="Four-day work week makes healthier, happier staff, study finds"><strong><span>Four-day work week makes healthier, happier staff, study finds</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matts leaves behind his wife Danni Matts, his daughter Harlow and son Xavier, and his step-children Archer and Jasmine. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Danni and her three children — ages 8, 7, and 8 months — are now facing life without their loving dad and step dad," Danni's friends Jenna McAtamney and Sarah Wilkinson wrote on a GoFundMe page.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matts, a NSW Police sergeant, had been an officer for more than 16 years and had previously lived in Coffs Harbour.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/police-officer-dies-suddenly-on-the-beach-while-playing-with-his-kids/7251553d-762e-4b56-9ab0-2d744ddf6df0" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Coffs Harbour Beaches Hockey Club paid tribute to their former friend and teammate with a post on Facebook.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Mattsy was a much-loved member of our club and the Coffs hockey community," the club wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He had a passion for horse racing and was never far from the track, even training a horse owned by several of our members. We pass on our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. So sad."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McAtamney and Wilkinson wrote that Matts was a great father who would be very much missed by his children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This loss has left the family devastated and in need of support as they begin to navigate this new reality," they wrote.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Their youngest child Xavier, is just 8 months old. Danni is doing everything she can to stay strong for her kids, but she cannot do it alone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matts' funeral will be held on Thursday in Coffs Harbour.</span></div></div>