A British charity worker has died in The Gambia after being attacked by two men who tried to steal his phone. Jeff Cantwell, 79, originally from Oldham, Greater Manchester, had lived in Brusubi on the western coast of The Gambia since 2012.
Mr Cantwell left his compound between 7pm and 8pm on Sunday, November 23, to meet friends at a restaurant when he was jumped by two men. His family said that when he did not arrive and was not answering his phone, friends went to his house and found him injured but still alive. He died upon arrival at the hospital.
Mr Cantwell had only returned to The Gambia at the beginning of October after a six-month visit to the UK to see his family. He had been working with various charities on projects including sponsoring school uniforms and arranging medical supplies for hospitals in remote areas.
His daughter, Janine Cantwell, 52, said: 'Yesterday we got a message from one of my dad's friends in Gambia that my dad had passed away. This was quite a shock as he only went back to Gambia on the 1st October after being with me for six months but what is more shocking and upsetting is that he had been attacked.'
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by Danielle Egerton, 32, to raise funds to bring Mr Cantwell's body back to the UK, with costs estimated between £3,000 and £10,000. The family also face daily fees while his body remains in the morgue. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in The Gambia and are in contact with the local authorities.'
