A CELEBRATION of life will take place in Meirionnydd this weekend as the body of a 27-year-old who died in China is returned home following a “painful few months”.
Sean O’Mahony, from Blaenau Ffestiniog, was teaching at a primary school in Tangshan, China when he fell to his death from a balcony on 12 December.
The former Ysgol y Moelwyn and Coleg Harlech student was travelling the world after graduating from Huddersfield University and his family spent many weeks tied up in bureaucratic red tape before they were able to bring his body home.
A fund-raising page to help facilitate Sean’s repatriation raised nearly £4,000 and, following a visit to the Far East by the deceased’s brother Jamie, the 27-year-old can now be laid to rest.
“We thankfully managed to sort everything out and bring him home,” Jamie told the Cambrian News after returning from China.
“I would especially like to thank our wonderful community, family and friends for all the support they have given my family in what has been a painful few months.
“We are now in a position to say our goodbyes on home soil, and will be holding a memorial in Church of All Saints of Wales, Manod, on Saturday, 17 February, at 12pm, followed by a celebration of Sean’s life at Cell B from 1pm.
“We welcome anyone who wants to say their goodbyes to Sean to join us there.”
He added: “I would like to commend the continue efforts of our MP Liz Saville Roberts in her quest to ensure adequate processes are put in place so as to prevent such avoidable delays and anguish for other families who experience this heartache.”
Mrs Roberts said: “I am pleased Sean has been brought back home and reunited with his family after what has been an extremely difficult time for his loved ones, a situation compounded by uncertainty and delays.
“I’d like to pay tribute to his family for their steadfastness in the face of bureaucratic barriers and lack of communication whilst trying to elicit information from the FCO.”