Much loved Killyleagh man died in Benidorm

Much loved Killyleagh man died in Benidorm

4 July 2018

THE funeral has taken place of a Killyleagh man who died suddenly while on holiday in Spain last month.

Jim Thompson died from a heart attack on Sunday, June 17 — Father’s Day — just eight days into a two-week holiday in Benidorm with his son, James.

Also on the holiday were Mr Thompson’s brother, Robin, and sister-in-law Jacqueline, who said what had happened came as a “terrible shock”.

Jacqueline said Mr Thompson, who was 56, and his son were staying in the same apartment about two or three streets away from where she was staying with her husband, sister and brother-in-law.

“We had just gone out and I noticed I had missed a phone call from James. I rang him back thinking that he and his dad were going to meet us,” Jacqueline recalled.

“He said we needed to get to their apartment straight away. We ran up and when we got there the paramedics had arrived, but Jim had already passed away.

“Two police officers arrived a short time later and we had to leave James with them. The body was removed to a mortuary and the following day we had to go to a funeral home with our passports.”

“We kept James with us all the time after that, apart from at night when he returned to his apartment, but we collected him the following morning. His daddy was his mate, his best friend.”

Jacqueline continued: “Jim had been on medication for blood pressure, but he was fine. We saw him that morning. He was sitting outside his apartment having breakfast and reading the paper.”

In the aftermath of the tragedy the family were greatly helped by the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which helps families bring home the bodies of loved ones who have died overseas.

”They were wonderful,” Jacqueline said. “They sorted out everything. We could not have coped without them.”

Mr Thompson, who was described as “fun loving” and with a “heart of gold”, was buried in First Killyleagh Presbyterian churchyard on Friday following a funeral service at Charles Rourke and Sons Funeral Church in Downpatrick. The road to the churchyard was lined with hundreds of mourners.

Jacqueline said the Thompson family was deeply grateful for the many messages of comfort and support which they had received.

“The Killyleagh community came together for us,” she said. “The amount of people there was unbelievable and we have been inundated with cards, messages and phone calls. Everybody has been so kind.”