A 44-year-old British man has died after falling ill on the final day of an anniversary holiday in Cyprus. Paulo Brockway, 44, was with his fiancée Kerry Debono when he suffered a heart attack and passed away the following day, September 17.
Family tribute and love for mountain climbing
Kerry spoke of his love for mountain climbing in a heartfelt tribute as the family now faces the task of repatriating his body from Cyprus to Cardiff.
“My fiancé and I went on holiday to celebrate our anniversary. Sadly, my fiancé Paulo Brockway fell ill the day we were due to fly home,” she said. “He passed away the following day. He was just 44 years old. I am devastated and will miss him terribly.”
She continued: “Over the last three years, Paulo had taken up mountain climbing, something he grew to absolutely love. He climbed mountains for charity, raising money to help others, and the challenge of each climb gave him something to look forward to – always wanting to reach the next, bigger mountain. It was something he was incredibly passionate about and brought him so much happiness.”
Impact on family and community
Kerry described the profound effect of his death on his family. “Paulo leaves behind a son who is devastated by the loss of his dad,” she said. “His loss has also affected so many people who loved him, including his mum, sisters and brother, who are completely heartbroken. His mum is struggling terribly to come to terms with losing her son.”
In a separate family tribute, Emma Mills said Paulo and Kerry had been enjoying “the most amazing holiday” before their world was suddenly turned upside down. She wrote: “Our whole family is absolutely heartbroken and in complete shock. They were enjoying their time together, making memories and having the holiday they deserved. They were due to come home to the UK, but tragically, on the very day they were supposed to fly home, Paulo suffered a heart attack and sadly, due to complications, he lost his life. One minute they were enjoying their holiday together, and the next Kerry’s whole world was turned upside down.”
Cardiff-based podcast The Central Club also paid tribute to Paulo, writing: “Rest in peace Paul.”
Fundraiser for funeral and repatriation
Kerry has launched a fundraiser to help pay for Paulo's funeral, and more than £1,300 has so far been donated towards the appeal’s initial £3,000 target.
Kerry said: “Paulo had no life insurance, so I am reaching out to ask for help towards the cost of his funeral, which is expected to be around £7,000. Any donation, no matter how small, would mean so much to us and would help us give Paulo the farewell he deserves. Paulo’s body will be repatriated from Cyprus back to Cardiff within 7 to 10 days, so we can bring him home and begin making arrangements for his funeral. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who donates, shares this fundraiser or simply takes the time to read Paulo’s story. Every kind gesture means more than you know.”
