WELSH DAD PAULO BROCKWAY, 44, DIES SUDDENLY ON ANNIVERSARY HOLIDAY AS FIANCÉE PAYS HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE

A Welsh father has died suddenly during an anniversary holiday in Cyprus, leaving his fiancée devastated after the couple had been dreaming of returning to the island to get married.

Paulo Brockway, 44, from Cardiff, became seriously ill on the day he and his fiancée, Kerry Debono, were due to fly home. He died in hospital the following day, September 17.

The couple had travelled to Cyprus to celebrate their three-year anniversary, and Kerry said the holiday had been filled with plans for their future together.

HE BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL ON THE DAY THEY WERE DUE TO FLY HOME

Paulo and Kerry had been enjoying their anniversary trip when he suddenly became unwell on September 16.

According to reports from his family, doctors initially suspected food poisoning. Further tests later indicated that Paulo had pancreatitis, with his condition deteriorating rapidly. Reports said he subsequently developed a severe infection and suffered heart problems before his death.

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

Paulo died in hospital at the age of just 44.

“WE HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR”

Kerry said she was struggling to comprehend how quickly everything had changed.

“I just can’t believe it’s all happened. I’m absolutely devastated, heartbroken and my heart is in a million pieces.”

The couple had met in 2023 and had spent the previous three years building a life together.

During the Cyprus trip, Paulo reportedly told Kerry that the island was somewhere they should get married.

The couple even placed a lock on a bridge during their holiday as a symbol of their relationship.

Kerry said Paulo had been thriving and that they had travelled to Cyprus simply to celebrate their anniversary.

“He had so much to live for and he was just gone in the blink of an eye,” she told BBC Wales.

HE LEAVES BEHIND A 12-YEAR-OLD SON

Paulo’s death has devastated his family, including his 12-year-old son, mother, sisters and brother.

His sister Samantha Brockway described him as a devoted father, loving fiancé, brother and son.

She said Paulo’s relationship with Kerry had made him particularly happy and that the couple had been planning to marry the following year.

“He was a dad, a loving fiancé, a brother and a son, and he was only 44 years old,” Samantha said.

She also remembered her brother as someone who loved the outdoors and had developed a passion for mountain climbing.

A PASSION FOR CLIMBING AND HELPING OTHERS

Over the last three years of his life, Paulo became increasingly passionate about mountain climbing.

Kerry said he completed climbs to raise money for charity and loved the challenge of setting himself increasingly ambitious goals.

She described climbing as something that brought Paulo enormous happiness and gave him something to look forward to.

“He climbed mountains for charity, raising money to help others,” Kerry wrote in her tribute.

His family said he still had many plans for the future and had been excited about his upcoming wedding.

FAMILY LAUNCHES FUNDRAISER

Kerry has launched a fundraiser to help cover the cost of Paulo’s funeral.

According to the fundraising page, Paulo did not have life insurance, while the funeral is expected to cost around £7,000.

His body was expected to be repatriated from Cyprus to Cardiff within seven to 10 days so that his family could begin making funeral arrangements.

The fundraiser had raised £2,455 from 80 donations at the latest update available.

Kerry ended her message with a heartbreaking tribute to the man she had expected to marry.

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

“HE WAS JUST GONE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE”

For Kerry and Paulo’s family, the tragedy came with almost no warning.

What was supposed to be a romantic anniversary getaway became the family’s final memory of a man who had been looking forward to marriage, spending time with his loved ones and climbing his next mountain.

Paulo leaves behind his son, his fiancée, his mother, siblings and many others who loved him.

His family now hopes to bring him home to Cardiff and give him the farewell he deserves.