David Kelly, a 50-year-old father from Barrhead, Renfrewshire, Scotland, has died after suddenly becoming seriously unwell at an airport in Turkey just hours before his flight home. He was rushed to intensive care, placed in an induced coma, and kept alive on life support for four weeks before being repatriated to the UK.
Holiday Turns into Nightmare
According to a family statement shared on the Barrhead Joinery Facebook page, David was on a relaxing holiday in Turkey when, just before his return flight, he collapsed at the airport. His condition deteriorated rapidly, and he was admitted to a Turkish hospital's intensive care unit. His wife, Dawn, remained by his side throughout the ordeal.
The family wrote: "What was meant to be a relaxing holiday in Turkey turned into a nightmare that none of us could have imagined. Just hours before his flight home, David suddenly became seriously unwell at the airport. Within a matter of hours, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he was rushed to intensive care."
Repatriation and Passing
On June 8, David was repatriated on a specialist flying intensive care unit and transferred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he passed away peacefully on June 18, surrounded by his family. His family announced: "We would like to share the devastating news that sadly after fighting as hard as he could, our lovable, amazing David Kelly passed away on Thursday 18th June."
Community Tributes
Tributes poured in from the local community. Noreen McHugh wrote: "I am devastated to hear this sad news about Davie. He was an excellent professional who I counted on over the years. But upmost a wonderful human being who was always friendly and honest." Another person added: "So sorry to hear this very sad news. David did some work for me when I moved into my home in Newton Mearns some years ago. Such a lovely, lovely man."
Fundraiser for Family
A fundraiser has been launched to support Dawn and the family, covering funeral expenses and donations to Kidney Research UK and the Intensive Care Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The fundraiser described David as a "much-loved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend" who was "always there to lend a hand, offer support, and put others before himself."
