The family of a former British Army sergeant from South Shields have paid tribute to the 'amazing' dad as they appeal for help to bring him home from the Philippines.
Stephen Kelly-Jones tragically died of multiple-organ failure at the Novaliches General Hospital in Manila on Monday, January 30. The 58-year-old had been in the country visiting his partner of 10 years, Carol Ann Del Rosario, when he became unwell.
Stephen's four children, Barry Atkinson, Daniel Kerry-Jones, Philip Cole, and Christyann Kerry-Jones, were unable to see him before he sadly died but said they were able to speak to him one last time on the phone before he went into hospital. Now the family have paid tribute to the "amazing" dad and grandad-of eight as they appeal for donations so they can bring his ashes home to South Shields.
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Son Barry, 29, said: "He was amazing. He was very funny and had a mint sense of humour.
"He met his partner Carol online 10 years ago. She is an English teacher in the Philippines and he would go over there to see her. He absolutely adored her."
Barry continued: "He used to love badminton and squash and used to like hill walking. He absolutely loved golf.
"He had two Dobermans that he absolutely loved and would take them out all the time."
A Crowdfunder page has been launched in the hopes of raising around £12,000 to cover the costs of bringing Stephen home from the Philipines and giving him the send-off he deserves. However, the family says they feel let down by the lack of support from the Government during this devastating time.
Stephen spent more than 10 years serving his country in the Army where he completed 14 deployment tours including the Gulf War and Northern Ireland. During that time, his family said he saved hundreds of lives and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
After leaving the Army, Stephen spent a decade working for Northumbria Police as a telephone operator before he retired and was also a foster carer.
Stephen's son Barry said he contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in the days before his dad's death and asked for help to fly him to the UK so he could pass away at home. The family says they also asked for help from the Government to bring his body home after his death but were unable to get assistance on both occasions.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) told Chronicle Live that it cannot pay for medical repatriation or medical evacuation. However, Stephen's children feel that more should be done to help servicemen and servicewomen in such circumstances.
Barry said: "We are going to have to get him cremated over there and get a flight over to collect ashes and bring him back. That's what it has come to because the Government wouldn't help at all. It is absolutely ridiculous.
"They only offered to check on his condition in the hospital. He has served his country - he has been in the Gulf War and has been in Northern Ireland.
"He has lost friends serving his country and his country can't even bring his body back."
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said they are supporting the family.
An FCDO spokeswoman said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in the Philippines.”
To donate visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kerryjonesfamily
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