A British dad has died after a medical emergency on a fishing trip to France with his young son, leaving his family devastated and launching a fundraiser to bring him home. Keiren Bell, 35, from Leeds, suffered a ruptured abdominal aneurysm while on a last-minute getaway with his eight-year-old son. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he could not be saved.
Family's tribute
In an appeal, Beth Lynch said: "Our family is devastated to be writing this. On 2 August 2026, our lives changed forever." She added: "Our beloved Keiren, aged just 35, travelled to France on a last-minute fishing trip with his 8-year-old son, Keiren, spending precious time together doing something they both loved. Tragically, while they were there, Keiren suffered a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, he sadly passed away."
Beth also said: "Keiren was a devoted dad to his two beautiful children, 13-year-old Kaitlyn and 8-year-old Keiren, a beloved son to Janine, a caring brother to Konnor, a devoted partner to Lisa, and a loyal friend to so many. He was the kind of person who would do anything for the people he loved, and his sudden passing has left an unimaginable hole in the lives of everyone who knew him."
Fundraising efforts
The family is currently in France, trying to cope with their grief and the practical challenges of arranging to bring Keiren back to Britain. As Keiren had no travel insurance, his family set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs. At the time of writing, £26,350 had been raised of a £30,000 target.
Beth said: "Any donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference. If you are unable to donate, we completely understand. Simply sharing this page would mean the world to us and help us reach as many people as possible." She also said that if donations exceed the cost of bringing Keiren home, the remaining money will go towards supporting his children.
"If, through your incredible generosity, we are fortunate enough to raise more than is needed to bring Keiren home, any remaining funds will be placed directly towards supporting his two children, helping to provide for their future and ensuring they have opportunities that their dad would have wanted for them."
