A MAN FROM Northern Ireland has died just hours after arriving in Ibiza for a holiday with friends.
Advertisement
Spanish police have launched an investigation, but have already said that he appears to have died from natural causes – despite friends’ fears that he suffered an undiagnosed concussion.
Alan had been sitting separately from his friends on the flight and a complaint had been made about him calling out to them.
Breaking down in tears, Mr Drennan said he simply couldn’t believe it was true.
“After 21 years of listening to his voice everyday…to be told I’ll never have that again, is the hardest thing I’ve ever been through”.
It is alleged that he showed evidence of a gash on his head and arm and he told pals that he had been beaten on his back too.
“We’re still trying to get to the bottom of what happened when Alan was questioned in the airport”.
“There is a void there at the minute and honestly – I was decorating on Sunday morning, I said to his brothers Lee and Carl to empty Alan’s room because I was going to decorate it for him coming home, he loves his cars and it was all arranged to have his wee vehicle valeted and all for him for coming home, but he’s not coming home the way I want him – it’s so so hard”.
Two online fundraising pages were set up by friends of the 21-year-old, with the hope of meeting the costs of bringing his remains home to Newtownabbey and his funeral.
It is understood the insurance company Alan used for his holiday cover is refusing to pay out for the family’s expenses.
The 21-year-old is understood to have died less than 24 hours later.
Arrangements are being made to return Alan’s body to the UK.
The group travelled together in a minibus on a journey none of them expected to have to face.
“It has been the most horrendous time of our lives and we’re dreading what’s ahead of us when we finally get Alan home”.
His father described his son as a fantastic lad with a bright future. The money left over have been used to help people who were in the same situation as us, who lost their loved ones overseas, to take some of the stress away for them.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust will assist the Drennan family alleviate the financial hardship in bringing Alan home.
“I don’t know how we will get through it”.
Advertisement
On Wednesday evening, friends and family of Mr Drennan released balloons and lanterns at Loughshore park in Jordanstown, County Antrim.
