A devastated Scots mum is heartbroken after her terminally ill son died on holiday in Fuerteventura.
Lesley Duck was on a break in the sun with her son David, who was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer when he had a heart attack in Fuerteventura on Sunday. The West Lothian family, from Bathgate, were staying at Caybeach Caleta on the west of the island when tragedy hit and an ambulance took the 43-year-old’s body while Lesley was left reeling trying to communicate with locals.
David’s 64-year-old mum said she often went on holidays with her son following his terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis but tragically did not have travel insurance complicating matters. Lesley is now struggling with the financial side of losing her son. She plans to return to Scotland on Tuesday after figuring out what to do. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are supporting the family.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, she said: “It’s been total turmoil, but I’m doing better now. David died of a heart attack. He had pancreatic cancer, and sclerosis of the liver.
“He lived hard, and played harder. He was only 43-years-old. He didn’t have insurance, which is the problem. He knew he was dying, so didn’t care. He just died sooner than expected.”
Lesley’s grief has been added to by the confusion over “what happens next”, with her being unable to speak Spanish.
She explained: “I’m meeting a woman today who is going to help, she lives on the island and speaks fluent Spanish. She’s going to come with me and explain things and translate for me, but the financial expenses have thrown me.
“It’s all going to land on me. He’s getting cremated today (Friday) which is going to cost me £2,600. I told them I couldn’t afford that. The company returned and said that if I could give them an £800 deposit, they’d make a payment plan for when I get home.
“So that seems to be what’s happening. I don’t even know if I get a death certificate or anything, it’s all been so confusing.
“I will get his ashes on Monday, other than that I’ve had no support.”
A FCDO spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Fuerteventura and are in contact with the local authorities.”
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