DAD, 44, DIES AFTER FALLING ILL ON ANNIVERSARY HOLIDAY — FIANCÉE LEFT HEARTBROKEN AS FAMILY FIGHTS TO BRING HIM HOME

A Welsh father died in Cyprus just one day after he suddenly became seriously ill on the final day of an anniversary holiday with his fiancée.

Paulo Brockway, 44, had travelled from Cardiff to Cyprus with Kerry Debono to celebrate their three-year anniversary. The couple were due to fly home on September 16 when Paulo became critically unwell and was taken to hospital.

What should have been the end of a happy holiday quickly turned into a devastating family tragedy.

A SUDDEN MEDICAL EMERGENCY

According to reports from Paulo’s family, doctors initially believed he may have been suffering from food poisoning.

Further tests, however, reportedly revealed that he had severe pancreatitis and that his pancreas had stopped functioning.

His condition deteriorated rapidly. He developed a serious infection and suffered two heart attacks before dying in hospital on September 17.

His family has since said Paulo had sought medical help in the months before the trip after experiencing stomach pain and extreme tiredness, but they believe the seriousness of his condition had not been recognized.

“I AM DEVASTATED AND WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLY”

Kerry has described the loss of her fiancé as unimaginable.

In the fundraising appeal launched following his death, she wrote that Paulo became ill on the very day they were supposed to return home.

“I am devastated and will miss him terribly,” she said.

The couple had reportedly been planning to marry next year, making the sudden loss even more painful for those close to them.

Paulo’s sister Samantha said his relationship with Kerry had brought a profound change in his life and that the family had never seen him happier.

She described him as a devoted father, loving fiancé, brother and son who still had “so much life left to live.”

A FATHER, CLIMBER AND CHARITY FUNDRAISER

Paulo leaves behind his 12-year-old son, as well as his mother, sisters, brother and many other relatives and friends.

Over the last three years of his life, he had developed a passion for mountain climbing.

According to Kerry, Paulo began taking on increasingly challenging climbs and used his passion for the mountains to raise money for charity.

The challenges gave him something to look forward to, she said, as he was always thinking about the next mountain he could conquer.

His family has remembered him as someone who loved adventure, the outdoors and helping other people.

FAMILY NOW FACES THE PAINFUL TASK OF BRINGING HIM HOME

Because Paulo died in Cyprus and did not have life insurance, his loved ones are now facing the financial burden of repatriating his body and arranging his funeral.

Kerry has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs, which are expected to total around £7,000.

According to the fundraising page, Paulo’s body is expected to be repatriated from Cyprus to Cardiff within seven to 10 days so that his family can bring him home and begin funeral arrangements.

The fundraiser is also intended to help the family give Paulo the farewell they believe he deserves.

“HE STILL HAD SO MUCH LIFE LEFT TO LIVE”

Family member Emma Mills said Paulo and Kerry had been enjoying their anniversary trip and making memories together before everything changed.

Cardiff-based podcast The Central Club has also paid tribute to Paulo following his death.

For those who loved him, the tragedy is not only the loss of a 44-year-old father — but the sudden ending of a future Paulo and Kerry had been planning together.

He had a son to watch grow up, mountains he still wanted to climb, charity causes he wanted to support and a wedding he was looking forward to.

Instead, his family is now waiting to bring him home.

Kerry ended her fundraising appeal with a final message to the man she planned to marry:

“I will love and miss you forever, Paulo.”

Forever your broken-hearted fiancée, Kerry.