Second city Big Issue seller dies

Lisa Mitchell had been selling the Big Issue for about four years

Big Issue sellers in Dundee are shocked, down and concerned after the death of two vendors, according to the man who recruits them.

Lisa Mitchell, 25, died of pneumonia on 20 January, just days after 37-year-old Patrick McDade was murdered.

Ms Mitchell continued to sell the magazine at the train station even though she was ill, as she feared she would lose her pitch if she was off.

Flowers and cards have been laid at the station in tribute to her.

Jim McDonald, a city centre assistant, found Ms Mitchell destitute and recruited her to the Big Issue about four years ago.

He said: "Everybody started liking her, her personality shone through. She was a chirpy girl, a chatty girl and everybody liked her.

"What a waste of a young person's life, so sad."

Mr McDonald had warned Ms Mitchell that she should go to the doctor about her poor health and was saddened to hear of her death.

Flowers and cards have been laid at Dundee railway station

He said: "Big Issue sellers at the moment are feeling very, very down, dejected and they're also concerned about their own welfare.

"They were all shocked first of all at the death of Lisa and afterwards what happened to Paddy.

"Everybody's shocked and hurt. It's a great loss."

Ms Mitchell often visited the Steeple Church in Dundee.

The Reverend David Clark said she had a warmth and made people feel they were important.

"There was always a sense of hope in Lisa, of going to get things right, and that spirit in her was very real," he said.

"Sometimes the impact of the least significant people in our community can be far more remarkable that we imagine and even more significant than those we think as important and significant.

"I think Lisa was an example of that."