The heartbroken sister of a Scot found dead in Lanzarote told how his body was discovered in an alleyway after he suffered severe heatstroke.
Robert Campbell, from Uddingston was reported missing after failing to board a flight home with a pal on Thursday, May 11, at the end of a week-long holiday.
The dad-of-one had ended up ‘delirious’ in hospital after reacting badly to the sunny weather on his first holiday abroad before later becoming separated from a friend, who flew home alone.
The 44-year-old’s family began to grow concerned but breathed a sigh of relief after Robert was spotted talking to two women at a bar on Monday night.
But their world’s fell apart when his body was found later that night after he’s believed to have collapsed in an alley outside the pub.
A post mortem has since confirmed that he suffered a seizure.
Sister Margueritte Devine told the Daily Record the family had to raise a minimum of £6,000 to have their loved one’s body flown back home as his travel insurance expired.
The 47-year-old said: “Robert had lost his passport because he was a bit delirious. He had severe sunstroke and sunburn which is why he had to be taken to hospital. He was released on Friday last week and must have booked a hotel to keep sleeping it off until he felt a bit better.
“As soon as we realised he wasn’t back in Glasgow, his friend Paul got on a flight to Lanzarote that same day. We heard that he had been seen getting something to eat on Monday. He had been speaking to two girls and playing a puggy machine at a bar.
“We were so happy when we heard this because it meant he was okay but not even a minute later, we saw a post on social media from someone saying he was dead and was lifted from an alleyway at the side of the bar.
“He must have come outside on his own and collapsed. The police are certain that his death is probably a medical issue and the British consulate has been quite firm on the fact that there’s nothing suspicious.
“We won’t have toxicology for a while but they were able to do a basic post mortem so we’ll find out the results of that soon.”
Paying tribute to her brother, who is survived by his son Aiden, 21, Margueritte said: “He was quite a laid back, funny and kind person.
“He always lived alone but he never forgot your birthday and would always bring a gift - even if it was something simple out the chemist on the way past.
“His friend that went to Lanzarote to get him, Paul, they’ve been friends since they were school age. He had a lot of close friends and obviously a lot of family too.
“He was very much his own person which is why the police weren’t able to mark him as missing straight away. He was only three when our mum died so the good thing is that he’s back with our mum and dad now.
“His travel insurance ran out last Thursday and we need to pay £6000 up front to get him home but we don’t have that kind of money. We also have to pay another £3000 when he gets here for a regular funeral which we’d love to give him.
“We can afford to pay that as a family but not the fee to get him home. They won’t release the body until we’ve got that in place so we’re just really hoping that anyone who knew Robert will be able to help with the GoFundMe page.”
After the GoFundMe, which you can find here, hit the required total late on Thursday night, Margueritte told the Record: "We can bring Robert home thanks to your help thanks so so much. It’s a lot less of a worry."
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