Bride’s shock as groom, 31,dies of cancer four days into honeymoon
A BriDe was left heartbroken when her husband died of lung cancer four days into their honeymoon – despite showing no previous symptoms.
Aimee Simms initially thought Alan, 31, had food poisoning on the ‘dream holiday’ in cape Verde.
But his condition quickly deteriorated and he died in a clinic on the holiday island off the west African coast.
A post-mortem examination revealed the gardener from Morley in West Yorkshire had died from lung cancer – even though he had never shown signs of having the disease.
Mrs Simms, 33, said: ‘i just can’t understand it. in the space of 12 hours he had gone from being fine and dandy to having died.
‘he didn’t have any signs [of lung cancer]. he didn’t have any coughing or breathing problems – nothing at all.
‘it was horrible. i’d been married eight days. that’s what i remember saying to everyone. how can this be happening?’
the couple had spent the first two days of their honeymoon in May relaxing and exploring cape Verde. the third started with a lazy morning.
But just a few hours later, Mr Simms told his wife that he felt tired and needed to sleep before dinner.
During the meal, she said he was very quiet – a contrast with his usual outgoing self – and he wanted to go straight to sleep afterwards.
then, at midnight, he woke up being violently sick and with stomach pains.
Mrs Simms called an emergency nurse at 4am. the nurse also thought it was food poisoning and gave him anti-sickness drugs and pain relief before telling him to go to a local clinic at 8am for further tests.
Mr Simms was very weak by the time he arrived at the surgery and doctors began to monitor his vital signs. As his condibeen tion continued to deteriorate, they ushered his wife away before asking her to leave the room as they began cpr.
Mrs Simms said: ‘i was just stood next to him in the clinic. he was really quiet. i was trying to reassure him.
‘then they asked me to leave as things got worse. i rang my mum crying. it was probably about an hour before someone came back to me.
‘they asked me to go in a room, and that’s when i knew he was dead.’ Mr Simms had fit and healthy despite living with a benign tumour in his brain, which was diagnosed when he was 19.
But the post-mortem examination in cape Verde revealed cancer had also been found in his lungs as well as his liver.
his mother Josie Simms said: ‘it seems it was something that was going to happen and was going to happen quickly.
‘it’s some peace of mind that he didn’t know about it.
‘he could have come home and within a couple of weeks been riddled with cancer.’
the couple fell in love after meeting in a nightclub in 2011.
Mrs Simms said: ‘i just knew straight away. he was like a big teddy bear. he was just a big softy.’
She eventually bought a house near to him in 2014 and the couple made plans to move in together.
Mr Simms proposed on holiday in Lanzarote. they then set about organising the wedding, which took place on May 19.
‘How can this be happening?’