TEACHER, 27, FOUND DEAD IN CHINA
VICTIM DISCOVERED IN HIS FLAT AFTER BEING ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL WITH ‘FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS’
A TEACHER from Cardiff has been found dead in his flat in China after suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Christopher Duffield, 27, was discovered in his apartment in Chongqing on Friday, September 13, after concerns were raised for his wellbeing.
The cause of his death is unknown, but it is not being treated as suspicious.
Christopher, who previously lived in Cardiff, was admitted to hospital with a flu-like condition the week before he died and had posted a picture of himself from his hospital bed on social media, with a caption saying: “Apparently every foreigner goes through this in their first year in China”.
His friends and family are now fundraising to bring his body back home and to hold a memorial for their much-loved son and friend.
So far they have raised more than £11,000 but the estimated cost to return Christopher’s body could reach £20,000.
Friend Hilary Nisbet, 26, who met Christopher while both were studying at Cardiff University, said his death came to his friends and family as a “complete shock”.
She added: “It was an awful shock, everyone was really surprised. On Facebook he had posted a picture of him in hospital and he was smiling and joking.
“Everybody was under the impression he was doing okay and he told his family he was feeling better the day before he died. It was a really big surprise.
“It’s been weird and people are still finding out about it on social media, but the amount of positivity about him has been overwhelming and seeing the amount of people who have come forward.
“His family can’t grieve properly because he’s not here and his friends are doing everything possible to bring him back.”
As well as studying a master’s degree in astrophysics at Cardiff University, Christopher went on to become a teacher in Caerphilly before moving to China to teach English.
Hilary said: “I would definitely describe him as being someone who was always willing to make new friends and try new things.
“He was funny and really clumsy. “He was really kind and always went out of his way to help other people.
“He had friends with mental health issues and he would be there to talk to them and to help them through everything. He always put others before himself.
“It was apparent when he was a teacher he was looking after disabled children one-on-one and he put lots of effort into that and went out of his way to do the best for others.
“Everyone used to call him the Chicken King because he loved going to Nando’s and eating chicken, so it became something of a running joke. Just before he moved to China he had a leaving party and his friend Cassie made him a roast chicken cake.”
As uncertainty continues surrounding the return of Christopher’s body to the UK, Hilary said it would mean a lot for everyone to have him back home.
She added: “Everybody is waiting for news all the time; because of the present difficulties we’re not sure when he’s going to be brought back.
“It would also make a people feel a lot better to know the full facts because at the moment it’s all up in the air.”
■ Visit https://www.gofundme. com/f/chris039-memorial-bringthe-chicken-king-home if you’d like to make a donation.