Llysfaen man dies of swine flu while on holiday in Spain

Oct 22 2009

A HOLIDAYMAKER from Llysfaen died in Spain after developing swine flu.

David Hayes, 29, was killed by a heart attack caused by the pandemic bug.

He started to feel unwell two days into a four-day holiday near Barcelona, was seen by a doctor then admitted to two hospitals.

But the stricken tourist, who had Down’s Syndrome, died at the second hospital.

Details about the tragedy have only just emerged in the UK after the man’s distraught family flew back to the UK.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed his death at the weekend and his body was flown back last Thursday.

David, a former Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan pupil in Abergele, had been on holiday with his parents Tom and Joan, sister Jane Matthews and her partner Alex.

They had flown to Barcelona and were staying in Cambrils (corr) near Salou.

David’s sister Jane, 29, of St Asaph, described her brother: "He was very sociable, very loving and very loved.

"He was always happy, always the life and soul.

"We were on holiday in Spain. We had gone for four days. The first couple of days on holiday we had a great time. We’d spent time on the beach, had a few nice meals, gone swimming. We had only been there for two days.

"Then David started to come down with a flu like bug. We called out a local doctor but he didn’t get better."

She said David was admitted to Cambrils Hospital that evening and doctors treated him in the accident and emergency unit, but he was transferred to Reus Hospital.

Ms Matthews said: "He passed away early on the morning of October 7.

"He died from heart failure brought on by swine flu. He didn’t have any previous heart problems."

She said the cause of death was later given as swine flu, although his family did not know that at the time.

David lived with his parents Joan, of Llysfaen, near Old Colwyn.

He enjoyed swimming at Bodelwyddan Castle health club and bowling and line dancing in Mencap-run sessions.

Last Friday the Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed David’s heart attack was caused by swine flu.

A spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British National at Reus in Spain." She added that F&CO staff gave ‘consular assistance to his family.

David’s funeral will be held tomorrow at the Marble Church, Bodelwyddan at 1pm, followed by a committal at Colwyn Bay crematorium.