A father has shared a cautionary tale for travelers following the tragic incident where his son passed away alongside his two sons during a flight to Bulgaria. Chris Neill, aged 40, along with his sons Reece, 20, and Archie, 9, embarked on their journey from Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport to Burgas on September 16 last year when Chris suddenly fell ill onboard. To assist with the expenses of repatriating Chris’s body, his parents, Mal and Lesley, initiated a successful GoFundMe campaign which exceeded its target, raising nearly £10,000.
Mal disclosed that the surplus funds were allocated to creating a trust for Chris’s two sons after repatriating his body. He emphasized the importance of having travel insurance after revealing that Chris mistakenly believed he was covered through his Halifax bank account, which was not the case due to a recent account change.
Mal, who is 69 years old and battling terminal cancer in Bromborough, Merseyside, highlighted the significance of travel insurance, urging people to verify their coverage before embarking on trips. He also mentioned how Reece, accompanied by his girlfriend and friends, climbed Snowden in memory of his father. The family expressed gratitude towards a paramedic, Rachael-Victoria Leyland, who endeavored to save Chris’s life during the flight emergency.
Rachael-Victoria recounted the harrowing experience of attending to Chris during the flight, where despite efforts to aid him, he tragically passed away after landing. Mal fondly remembered his son as a devoted Everton fan who cherished his children and lived life exuberantly. He described Chris as a generous and well-liked individual, emphasizing his positive impact on those around him.
