PAULO BROCKWAY DIES SUDDENLY IN CYPRUS AS FIANCÉE FACES HEARTBREAKING JOURNEY TO BRING HIM HOME

A Welsh father has died suddenly in Cyprus while celebrating his anniversary with his fiancée, leaving his family facing the heartbreaking task of bringing him home to Cardiff.

Paulo Brockway, 44, had travelled to Cyprus with Kerry Debono for their third anniversary. The couple had been preparing to fly home on September 16 when Paulo suddenly became seriously ill.

He died in hospital the following day, September 17.

For Kerry, what had begun as a special holiday with the man she planned to marry ended with her facing the devastating loss of her fiancé.

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

According to reports from Paulo’s family, he became unwell on the day the couple were due to return to Wales and was taken to hospital.

Doctors initially believed he may have been suffering from food poisoning.

Further tests reportedly revealed that Paulo was suffering from severe pancreatitis and that his pancreas had stopped functioning.

His condition then deteriorated rapidly. Reports say he developed a serious infection and suffered two heart attacks before he died on September 17.

His family has also said Paulo had sought medical help in the months before the holiday after experiencing stomach pain and extreme tiredness, although they believe the seriousness of his condition was not recognised at the time.

“I AM DEVASTATED AND WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLY”

Kerry has described the loss of her fiancé as devastating.

In a fundraising appeal launched following Paulo’s death, she wrote that he became ill on the day they were due to fly home and died the following day.

She also spoke about one of Paulo’s greatest passions during the final years of his life — mountain climbing.

Over the previous three years, Paulo had taken up climbing and began using his challenges to raise money for charity.

For him, every mountain represented another goal to reach.

Kerry said the activity had brought him enormous happiness and given him something to look forward to.

A FATHER, FIANCÉ AND SON

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

His sister Samantha described him as a devoted father who loved his family and had been happier than his relatives had seen him in years.

She said Paulo and Kerry had been planning to marry next year and that he had been excited about their future together.

The suddenness of his death has left the family struggling to come to terms with the fact that a man who had been looking forward to his wedding and spending time with the people he loved was suddenly gone.

Emma Mills, another family member, said the couple had been enjoying what should have been a memorable holiday before Paulo became ill.

She described the family as “absolutely heartbroken and in complete shock.”

HIS BODY MUST NOW BE BROUGHT HOME

Kerry has launched a fundraiser to help cover the cost of Paulo’s funeral and bringing his body back to Wales.

The fundraiser says Paulo did not have life insurance and estimates that the funeral will cost around £7,000.

His body is expected to be repatriated from Cyprus to Cardiff within seven to 10 days, allowing the family to begin making funeral arrangements.

The appeal was initially seeking £3,000, with donations already coming in from people wishing to support the family.

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

A LEGACY OF CLIMBING FOR CHARITY

Beyond his role as a father and fiancé, Paulo will also be remembered for his love of the outdoors.

He began mountain climbing around three years ago and turned the hobby into a way of helping others by raising money for charity through his climbs.

His family says the challenge of reaching increasingly difficult peaks gave him a sense of purpose and happiness.

It was a passion that became an important part of his life during the years he spent building a future with Kerry.

A FAMILY NOW WAITING TO BRING HIM HOME

The family is now waiting for Paulo to be returned to Cardiff, where they can say goodbye and arrange his funeral.

For Kerry, the final days of what was supposed to be a celebration of their relationship have instead become a painful journey of grief.

Paulo was only 44.

He leaves behind a son, a fiancée he had planned to marry, and a family who are now trying to cope with a loss that came without warning.

His loved ones hope that bringing him home will allow them to give him the farewell he deserves — and remember the man he was beyond the tragedy of his final days.