A mum is fundraising to help bring her son’s body home after he was found dead on a beach in Portugal.
Thomas Anson, from Chesterfield, had lived abroad for much of his adult life and took on roles such as teaching children in Thailand. When the pandemic started Thomas was living in Portugal and decided to stay in the southern European country describing it as "feeling like home".
Earlier this year, the 41-year-old was found dead on a beach with the circumstances not believed to be suspicious. Now his mother, Dawn, is trying to raise money to bring Thomas home.
DerbyshireLive reported she wrote on the family’s JustGiving page: “It's not what I need right now but sadly needs must and I can't leave my beautiful boy 'unclaimed' in Portugal. So with my heart in pieces, I have to try and arrange his funeral.
"A simple cremation so I can keep his ashes with me or scatter them in the wind, just as he lived, anywhere and everywhere.”
So far the family has raised more than £1,400. Thomas' sister Lauryn added: "He was very spiritual and overall loved life and the freedom it brought and always had a story to tell.
“He loved his family, playing guitar and could make friends wherever he ended up.
“Unfortunately he had no travel insurance so this will help massively towards helping us cremate him, spread his ashes in Portugal where he wanted to be, and bring some of them back with us.”
The last person to see Thomas alive was one of his friends in Portugal.
He said: "The conversations we had were very upbeat and positive. Like me he seemed nomadic and liked to move around a lot, a well-travelled man who enjoyed life."
Thomas' family are not sure how much money his funeral and the process of arranging it will cost, but have said any extra money will be donated to the homeless.
