MEMORIES of this summer will be marred by the loss of a loved one in tragic circumstances for many Irish families.
Between May and August this year, 100 Irish holidaymakers were reported dead around the world.
This means the summer of 2015 has seen the highest number of deaths of Irish citizens abroad in the last five years.
That’s 34 more people dying overseas this year than in 2014, the Irish Government confirmed.
Figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs, in response to a Freedom of Information request by The Irish Post, revealed that the average number of reported deaths over the summer over the last five years was 71.
There were 81 deaths in 2013 – the second highest since 2010.
Colin Bell from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust says the generosity of Irish people and their ability to come together in solidarity in the face of tragedy knows no bounds.
The trust was set up in 2013 in memory of Kevin Bell who died in a hit-and-run accident in New York. To date it has helped 90 families.
“When Kevin was killed there was a huge fundraising frenzy at home and over £150,000 was raised,” says Mr Bell, a native of Newry.
“It turned out that the money wasn’t needed as Kevin’s employers covered the costs of bringing him home. So, we had all this money left.
“We decided to set up a trust that could use the money to help other families. It’s a tribute to Kevin, it’s his legacy.”
Tragically, it’s during the summer months – which should be a time of adventure and relaxation – that the trust sees a greater need for its services.
This summer alone, over 20 families reached out for help.
“We bring bodies home from all over the world, Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Thailand, Indonesia and many from Europe too,” Mr Bell adds.
This year the number of accidents involving Irish holiday-goers also increased, with 22 more reported incidents between May and August 2015 than the same time last year.
Before this summer, there had been a noticeable drop in incidents since 2011 when 73 accidents involving Irish people abroad were reported.
Govan Joliffe-Byrne, 20, died in Tanzania this summerThe tragic loss of life
This summer began with great sadness for Ireland and its people after six Irish students — five of them Irish citizens — died in a balcony fall in Berkeley, California on June 16. A further eight young people were badly injured.
Then, less than two weeks later, three Irish people were killed in a terror attack in Tunisia on June 26, when a gunman opened fire on tourists on a beach in Sousse.
Holiday-makers David Houlihan, Alan Drennan and Eamon Buckley are also among those who sadly never arrived home.
Waterford native David, an avid GAA player, drowned on July 8 in the popular tourist hotspot of Koh Samui, an island in the south of Thailand.
Less than a week later, a teenager from Co. Galway also drowned whilst holidaying in Croatia.
Eamon Buckley’s body was found on July 14 by divers off the coast of Split, a popular resort in the south of the country.
A few days later, news of another Irish tragedy came from Ibiza.
Alan Drennan, 21, was found dead in his hotel room less than a day after arriving on the Mediterranean island on July 18 with a group of friends.
But as families struggle to come to terms with the grief and pain of their loss, the unbearable task of bringing their loved ones’ bodies back home must be faced.
Often the cost of repatriation can leave a family struggling with an unmanageable financial burden.
And it is here that public generosity and support often shines through.
In the case of David Houlihan from Waterford, an online fundraising mission raised over €€30,000 to help bring his body home from Thailand.
Generous donors also helped the family of Alan Drennan – who lost his life in Ibiza – by raising over £12,000.
Sean Paul McCabe was left needing treatment after breaking his back whilst on holiday in IbizaBringing loved ones home
In Alan’s case, as with many others, his family enlisted the help of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust to assist in bringing his body home.
Colin Bell is all too familiar with the pain families endure in having to bring a loved one home in a coffin.
“I’ve gone through the same thing as what these families have, so they find it easier to come to us,” he says.
The family of injured Belfast man Sean Paul McCabe, who is stranded in Ibiza, have also been fundraising over the past week.
They are raising funds for the 20-year-old’s expensive hospital treatment after he broke his back in a swimming pool accident during his first holiday abroad without his family.
They fear that Sean could be left paralysed and now face the prospect of paying £20,000 in medical costs as he had not taken out travel insurance for the last-minute holiday.
“Travel insurance provides an added layer of security, ensuring that you can enjoy your holiday with peace of mind,” said Martin Skelly, President of the Irish Travel Agents Association.
“Travel insurance offers additional cover to what is available on National Health Services and can cover you for a range of incidences including cancellation charges in case of illness preventing you from travelling, coverage for additional healthcare abroad which may not be available under the country’s public health scheme or repatriation should it be needed.”
