PAULO BROCKWAY: CARDIFF DAD, 44, DIES AFTER FALLING ILL ON ANNIVERSARY HOLIDAY IN CYPRUS

HE AND HIS FIANCÉE HAD BEEN PREPARING TO FLY HOME AFTER A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY TRIP — THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED

What was supposed to be a romantic anniversary holiday in Cyprus became a devastating final journey for Paulo Brockway, a 44-year-old father from Cardiff.

Paulo had travelled to the Mediterranean island with his fiancée, Kerry Debono, to celebrate their three-year anniversary.

The couple had been enjoying their time together and had even talked about returning to Cyprus to get married.

But on the very day they were due to fly home, Paulo suddenly became seriously ill.

He was taken to hospital, where his condition rapidly deteriorated.

He died shortly afterwards, leaving Kerry and his family facing the unimaginable task of bringing him home to Wales.

THEIR ANNIVERSARY HOLIDAY ENDED IN TRAGEDY

Paulo and Kerry had travelled from Cardiff to Cyprus in September to celebrate three years together.

According to Kerry, the trip had been filled with happy memories.

The couple had fallen in love with the island and had even discussed returning there to marry.

Kerry recalled Paulo telling her:

“This is the place we need to get married.”

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

For a couple who had been looking forward to their future together, the holiday was supposed to be a celebration.

Instead, it became the last trip they would ever take together.

PAULO SUDDENLY BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL

On the day the couple were due to return to the UK, Paulo suddenly fell ill.

The Sun reported that he suffered a heart attack and died from complications the following day.

Further reporting from BBC Wales said Kerry was told by doctors in Cyprus that Paulo had suffered a cardiac arrest following pancreatitis, which she said had previously gone undiagnosed.

Other reports said Paulo had initially been believed to have food poisoning before scans revealed pancreatitis and serious problems affecting his pancreas.

He subsequently developed a serious infection and suffered two heart attacks, according to family accounts reported by AOL.

The sudden deterioration left Kerry completely shocked.

She later said:

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

“HE HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR”

Paulo’s family say the 44-year-old had been looking forward to his future.

His sister Samantha described him as a dad, loving fiancé, brother and son, saying he had so much more he wanted to experience.

The family said Paulo was particularly devoted to his 12-year-old son.

He also leaves behind his mother, sisters and brother, who have been left devastated by his death.

Samantha said Paulo’s relationship with Kerry had changed him and that the family had never seen him so happy.

The couple were reportedly planning to marry the following year.

“He was genuinely excited about their future together,” she said.

HIS PASSION FOR CLIMBING

Away from his family life, Paulo had developed a major passion for mountain climbing during the final years of his life.

According to Kerry’s fundraising appeal, he began climbing mountains around three years ago and soon became passionate about the challenge.

He also used his climbs to raise money for charity, turning something he loved into a way of helping other people.

Kerry said each challenge gave Paulo something to look forward to.

He was always thinking about the next mountain and the next goal.

She described climbing as something that brought him enormous happiness.

His family also remembered his love of the outdoors and adventure.

Samantha said adventure had been a huge part of who Paulo was.

“I AM DEVASTATED AND WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLY”

After Paulo’s death, Kerry paid an emotional tribute to the man she had planned to marry.

She wrote:

“I am devastated and will miss him terribly.”

She described Paulo as someone who had brought happiness to many people and whose loss had left their family heartbroken.

Her words captured the shock of losing someone who had been expected to come home from a holiday only days later.

Instead, Kerry was left waiting for Paulo’s body to be returned to Cardiff.

THE FAMILY NOW FACES THE COST OF BRINGING HIM HOME

The emotional loss has also been accompanied by unexpected financial pressure.

Kerry launched a GoFundMe appeal after revealing that Paulo did not have life insurance.

The family estimated that his funeral would cost approximately £7,000.

The original fundraising target was £3,000, with additional costs surrounding the funeral and bringing Paulo home.

At the time of The Sun’s report, more than £1,300 had been donated. The fundraiser has since continued to receive support.

Kerry said Paulo’s body was expected to be repatriated from Cyprus to Cardiff within seven to 10 days, allowing the family to begin making funeral arrangements.

She thanked everyone who had donated, shared the appeal or simply taken the time to read Paulo’s story.

A FAMILY LEFT IN SHOCK

Paulo’s death has affected far more than his fiancée.

His son has been left without his father.

His mother has been struggling to come to terms with losing her son.

His sisters and brother are also mourning.

Samantha said the family had been completely devastated by the sudden loss.

She described Paulo as someone who still had so much life ahead of him and so much to look forward to.

His death has also prompted tributes from people outside the immediate family, including The Central Club, a Cardiff-based podcast that remembered Paulo following the news.

“ONE MINUTE THEY WERE ENJOYING THEIR HOLIDAY”

A family member described the tragedy as particularly difficult because of how quickly everything changed.

Paulo and Kerry had been enjoying what their family described as the holiday they deserved.

Then, suddenly, Paulo became seriously ill.

“One minute they were enjoying their holiday together, and the next Kerry’s whole world was turned upside down,” the family said.

That contrast has become one of the most painful parts of Paulo’s story.

The trip had been about celebrating their relationship and looking toward a future together.

Instead, Kerry is now preparing to say goodbye.

A LIFE CUT SHORT

Paulo was only 44.

He had a son who loved him.

He had a fiancée he planned to marry.

He had discovered a passion for climbing and used it to raise money for others.

And he had been making plans for the future.

His sudden death in Cyprus has left those plans unfinished.

Kerry said she will love and miss him forever.

The family is now waiting to bring Paulo home to Cardiff, where they can finally begin arranging the funeral and saying goodbye.

For Kerry, the anniversary holiday that was meant to create another happy memory has become a memory she will carry for the rest of her life.

Paulo Brockway was 44 years old.

He leaves behind a son, his mother, siblings and the fiancée who says she will miss him terribly.