WELSH DAD PAULO BROCKWAY, 44, DIES SUDDENLY ON ANNIVERSARY HOLIDAY — FIANCÉE LEFT HEARTBROKEN

CARDIFF, WALES — A Welsh father who travelled to Cyprus with his fiancée to celebrate their three-year anniversary has died suddenly after becoming seriously ill on the day the couple were due to fly home.

Paulo Brockway, 44, from Cardiff, died in Cyprus in September, leaving behind his fiancée Kerry Debono, his son, mother, siblings and a family who had been looking forward to his wedding and a future together.

Kerry said she was “absolutely devastated” and described the loss as something that happened “in the blink of an eye.”

A HOLIDAY THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

Paulo and Kerry travelled from Cardiff to Cyprus in September to celebrate their three-year anniversary.

The couple had been enjoying their time together on the island and were preparing to return home when Paulo suddenly became seriously unwell.

According to reports from his family, he suffered a cardiac emergency and died shortly afterwards.

Kerry later told BBC Wales that doctors in Cyprus explained to her that Paulo had suffered a cardiac arrest following pancreatitis, a condition she said had previously gone undiagnosed.

Other reports said doctors initially believed Paulo may have had food poisoning before scans revealed the seriousness of his condition. He subsequently developed a severe infection and suffered further cardiac complications.

Paulo died on September 17, according to his fiancée’s fundraising page.

“HE HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR”

For Kerry, the tragedy came after a holiday filled with plans for their future.

She told BBC Wales that the couple had fallen in love with Cyprus and had even discussed returning to the island to get married.

“He was thriving,” she said, recalling how they had travelled to celebrate their anniversary.

The couple had also placed a lock on a bridge in Cyprus as a symbol of their relationship.

Their holiday, however, ended with Kerry facing the devastating reality that she would return home without her fiancé.

A FATHER, FIANCÉ AND MOUNTAIN CLIMBER

Paulo was remembered by his family as a devoted father and someone who loved adventure.

Over the final three years of his life, he developed a passion for mountain climbing and took part in climbs to raise money for charity.

Kerry said climbing gave him something to look forward to, with Paulo always searching for another mountain to conquer.

“He had so much to live for,” she told BBC Wales.

His family has also described him as a loving father, fiancé, son and brother.

His 12-year-old son is among those grieving his death. His mother, sisters and brother have also been left heartbroken.

“I WILL LOVE AND MISS YOU FOREVER”

Following Paulo’s death, Kerry launched a fundraiser to help with funeral expenses.

The family said Paulo did not have life insurance, while the funeral was expected to cost around £7,000.

His body was due to be repatriated from Cyprus to Cardiff, allowing his family to bring him home and begin arrangements for his funeral.

As of the latest fundraiser update available, £2,455 had been raised from 80 donations toward the £3,000 target.

Kerry’s message was simple but heartbreaking.

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

A FUTURE THEY NEVER GOT TO HAVE

Paulo and Kerry had travelled to Cyprus expecting to return home together.

Instead, Kerry was left to face a future without the man she had planned to marry.

Their trip had been about celebrating three years together and looking ahead to the next chapter of their relationship.

Now, the memories of that final holiday have become part of the story of a man his family says still had so much life ahead of him.

For those who loved Paulo, the holiday that was supposed to celebrate their future became the final chapter of his life — leaving behind a grieving son, a heartbroken fiancée and a family struggling to understand how everything changed so suddenly.