Rail union boss Bob Crow in shock death aged 52

Union leader Bob Crow died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday.

12:44 11 March 2014

Bob Crow, the passionate and headstrong leader of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, has died suddenly aged 52.

The RMT released a brief statement: "It is with the deepest regret that RMT has to confirm that our general secretary Bob Crow sadly passed away in the early hours of [Tuesday] morning."

It is believed that Crow suffered an aneurysm as well as a major heart attack and died after being rushed to Whipps Cross hospital in Leytonstone, east London.

Crow had recently clashed with Boris Johnson over the future of the capital's tube network.

Johnson stated that Crow was "a fighter and a man of character".

He added: "Whatever our political differences, and there were many, this is tragic news.

"Bob fought tirelessly for his beliefs and for his members.

"There can be absolutely no doubt that he played a big part in the success of the tube, and he shared my goal to make transport in London an even greater success.

"It's a sad day."

Meanwhile Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Bob Crow was a major figure in the labour movement and was loved and deeply respected by his members.

"I didn't always agree with him politically but I always respected his tireless commitment to fighting for the men and women in his union. He did what he was elected to do, was not afraid of controversy and was always out supporting his members across the country."

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone told Sky News: "He fought really hard for his members. The only working-class people who still have well-paid jobs in London are his members.

"With the passage of time people will come to see that people like Bob Crow did a very good job."

Famed for his bold leftwing style of leading the union, Crow often angered commuters affected by strikes as much as he won praise from the union's members for helping to secure pay rises and changes in the business model.

Crow left school at age 16 to start his career in the railway business, starting as an apprentice track worker. By 20 he was a local representative of the National Union of Railwaymen. He went through the ranks rapidly and in 2002 he was the leader of the RMT. Through his leadership, subscription to the union quadrupled from 20,000 to 80,000 members.

Controversial right to the end, he recently defended his decision to remain in his family council house despite a wage of £145,000 a year. Last month he also hit back at reporters who blasted his expensive holiday to Brazil in the run-up to a tube strike by stating "What do you want me to do? Sit under a tree and read Karl Marx every day?"