A fundraising campaign has been launched to bring home the body of a young Tipperary father who has died in Thailand, reports Sunday World.
Billy Ashford was hospitalised late last week, placed on a ventilator, and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), reports Sunday World.
His aunt, Keisha Hannon, had initially set up a GoFundMe appeal to raise funds so that his family could travel to Thailand to be by his side.
Sadly, Keisha has since confirmed that Billy has passed away, and the fundraiser will now go towards funeral expenses and repatriating his body to Ireland, reports Sunday World.
There has been an outpouring of sympathy and support for the family in Tipperary town. Billy leaves behind his young son, Callum, aged three.
“My nephew sadly passed away. We’re in the process of getting him home,” said Keisha on Tuesday, 4 November, reports Sunday World. “It’s a constant struggle. We will get him home back here to his resting place,” reports Sunday World.
Keisha said that thousands of euro have already been paid to Thai authorities to cover hotel, hospital, and related expenses.
“They’re demanding so much money, over €2,000 again today. My heart is broken. They’re after getting his death cert wrong and everything. We’re having terrible trouble getting his body released. We’re hoping to have him home by the weekend anyway. It’s terrible,” she said, reports Sunday World.
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Neighbours and friends have rallied around the family in their efforts to bring Billy home.
“We just want him home and to be with us. He’s there by himself,” said Keisha. “All we want is our nephew brought back home to us. We’re a family and we’re heartbroken and we just want him home,” reports Sunday World.
So far, Keisha said there has been no assistance from the Irish government or the embassy in Thailand. “We’re not getting any help at all. We’re trying to do it all by ourselves.”
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust has stepped in to help, though Keisha said the hotel Billy was staying in is seeking more money since he never checked out, reports Sunday World.
Early on Monday morning, news emerged that Billy had suffered a cardiac arrest. The exact cause of death remains unclear, according to Keisha. “We can’t figure it out. We’re not getting answers. We’re getting absolutely nowhere with them,” reports Sunday World.
In a message posted earlier on the GoFundMe page, Keisha wrote: “It is with sadness and a heavy heart that we have come to the conclusion to ask for help from family and friends, near and far,” reports Sunday World.
“My nephew Billy Ashford has taken seriously ill over in Thailand since yesterday, the 29th of October, and is over there by himself. His hospital bill is almost €10,000. He’s in the intensive care unit and on a ventilation machine,” reports Sunday World.
She added that the family has been in contact with the hospital but desperately need to be by his side as soon as possible, reports Sunday World.
“Our main aim is to get family out to his bedside and be with him right now. I am asking any donation of any sort would be greatly appreciated.”
So far, 277 donors have contributed more than €6,300 to the fundraiser, reports Sunday World.
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