BRITISH DAD, 44, DIES IN CYPRUS ON THE DAY HE AND HIS FIANCÉE WERE DUE TO FLY HOME

CARDIFF, Wales — What was supposed to be a romantic anniversary getaway ended in heartbreak when a 44-year-old Welsh father suddenly became seriously ill in Cyprus on the very day he and his fiancée were due to fly home.

Paulo Brockway, from Cardiff, had traveled to the Mediterranean island with his fiancée, Kerry Debono, to celebrate their third anniversary. The couple had been enjoying their holiday and had even begun talking about returning to Cyprus to get married.

But on September 16, the day they were scheduled to return to the UK, everything changed.

Paulo suddenly became unwell and was taken to hospital. According to Kerry, doctors in Cyprus later told her that he had suffered cardiac arrest following pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that she said had not previously been diagnosed.

Paulo died the following day, September 17.

“HE HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR”

Kerry described the sudden loss as devastating, saying she could hardly believe that the man she had been celebrating with only hours earlier was gone.

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

She said Paulo had been full of life and that the couple had traveled to Cyprus to celebrate three years together.

During the trip, the pair fell even more in love with the island. Kerry said Paulo had told her that Cyprus was the place where they should get married.

The couple also placed a love lock on a bridge during their holiday, a small gesture that has since become one of the memories Kerry is holding onto after his death.

A PASSION FOR CLIMBING

Paulo was remembered not only as a devoted father and partner but also as someone who had developed a passion for mountain climbing.

According to Kerry’s fundraising appeal, Paulo had taken up mountain climbing during the previous three years and became deeply passionate about the challenge.

He also climbed mountains to raise money for charity, using each challenge as motivation to push himself toward the next peak.

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

His sudden death has left behind a grieving son, his mother, sisters, brother and fiancée.

FAMILY FACES THE COST OF A FUNERAL

Although the couple had travel insurance that Kerry said would cover hospital expenses and the repatriation of Paulo’s body, she explained that the family still faced unexpected funeral costs.

Paulo did not have life insurance.

Kerry subsequently launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for his funeral and give him what she described as the send-off he deserved. The original appeal estimated funeral costs at around £7,000.

The fundraiser also said Paulo’s body was expected to be repatriated from Cyprus to Cardiff so his family could begin making funeral arrangements.

As of the latest available fundraiser update, donations had reached more than £2,400 from 80 donors toward a £3,000 fundraising target.

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

“I WILL LOVE AND MISS YOU FOREVER”

For Kerry, the trip that was meant to celebrate their relationship has instead become a painful final memory of the man she planned to marry.

Paulo had a son who is now grieving the loss of his father, while his wider family has been left struggling to understand how someone who seemed to have so much ahead of him could suddenly be gone.

“He had so much to live for and he was just gone in the blink of an eye,” Kerry said.

The couple had arrived in Cyprus celebrating their future.

They left the island facing a loss they never could have imagined.

Kerry’s final message in the fundraiser was simple:

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

Paulo Brockway was 44 years old.