Family thanking charity after dad died overseas

Family thanking charity after dad died overseas

22 April 2015

TEENAGER Thomas Kelly’s first holiday abroad turned to tragedy. Last July, when he was just 19, Thomas was excited to land in Majorca with his dad Alfie and best friend Phelim.

The trio were in high holiday spirits, eagerly exploring the party town of Magaluf on their first day.

But their happiness was short-lived — for within 48 hours tragedy struck when 54 year-old Alfie suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. 

As his bewildered son struggled to cope with the traumatic loss far from home, a fledgling charity unexpectedly stepped in to ease the path ahead for the Kelly family.

The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which was established just two years ago to help ease the financial hardship of bereaved Irish families repatriating the bodies of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances, quickly responded to a call from Thomas’ sister, liaising with Spanish authorities and paying the repatriation costs.

The Kellys, who credit the Newry-based Trust for making Alfie’s return home as easy as possible, are now hoping to repay the charity by hosting a fundraising concert with country star Jimmy Buckley at Downpatrick Cricket Club on May 22.

Hoping the event will raise money to help ease the trauma of other bereaved families in the future, Thomas says he could not overestimate the difference the charity made amid such trauma.

Explaining that his dad decided to join them on holiday after a number of friends pulled out, Thomas remembers their first night abroad as “brilliant.”

“We went out and had a few drinks and saw most of Magaluf,” he said.

“The next day we went to the beach and had a bite to eat. We enjoyed the scenery and that night dad was in great form.”

Thomas said the trio first went to a nightclub but decided to find somewhere more relaxing to suit Alfie.

But at around 2am, Alfie went to the bathroom and never returned.

At first the two boys were not alarmed, imagining the Alfie was chatting with fellow holidaymakers. However, after half-an-hour they began to search for him, eventually starting to panic about his disappearance.

“My dad could talk the leg off a stool so we were sure he was with somebody in the pub,” said Thomas.

“When we couldn’t find him we had no idea what to do. We were both 19 and and abroad for the first time so quite naive. We ended up going back to our apartment and thinking he would come through the door eventually.”

The next morning, however, when Alfie had still not returned, Thomas said he went into “panic stations.”

“I did not know how to contact emergency services, where to go or who to turn to. It was terrifying,” he said.

Shortly after the teenagers asked for help at reception, two police officers arrived to tell them Alfie had passed away.

Thomas said he had to identify his father’s body, while his brother, who arrived the next day, attended court hearings and sorted out paperwork.

When they were told to expect to pay thousands for repatriation costs, Thomas said he “put his heads in his hands.”

“We hadn’t taken out insurance even though it was only £12 at the time,” said Thomas. “I remember thinking I would book a policy it before leaving home but it went out of my mind.”

It was shortly afterwards his family found The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and were reassured.

“Damian Ruddy, from the charity, right away said ‘Don’t worry we will get him home’ and he asked for bank details,” said Thomas.

“It was a living nightmare and to hear those words was a weight off our shoulders. To have that burden taken off was a big big help.

“Within an hour the money had been transferred and the charity still keeps in touch with us. They have never asked for a penny back but we are now hoping to repay them with the Jimmy Buckley concert.”

Although Thomas tries not to dwell on the the trauma of losing his dad, he says he has pieced together what he believes happened on the night he died.

“I think he hadn’t felt well and didn’t want to put a dampener on our night so he has tried to quietly slip off,” he said. “It was something we would never have expected.”

Thomas said he hopes the May fundraiser may become an annual event and says they aim to raise £6,000 for the charity.

Tickets are available now for £15 from a number of outlets including JR’s Discount in Castlewellan, 

Bargainland, Flynn’s Garage and Murphy’s Shop in Downpatrick.