Body stranded on troubled island
The funeral of a Rutherglen man who passed away after being stranded on an island abroad has been delayed.
Jon Paul McAlister, who died following a battle with bowel cancer on Sunday, November 18, is still on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion.
The funeral process has been delayed because of political unrest on the island which has resulted in ongoing protests, road blockages, and transport being affected.
This interrupted plans to bring home the 38-year-old’s body last week, but it is hoped that Jon Paul will be repatriated this week instead.
Steve Park, the brother of Jon Paul’s fiance Craig, is on the island coordinating everything to make sure Jon Paul gets back home.
The 36-year-old flew to the island two days before Jon Paul’s death to support him and his brother. Steve, from Stirling, said: “Protests about fuel and poverty started last Saturday and were supposed to be for just one day, but they continued for days and it has affected everything on the island.
“The airport was closed over the weekend, and the French sent in their army to enforce a curfew between 6pm and 6am.
“Jon Paul and Craig’s holiday insurers appointed a funeral director here in Reunion, but because roads have been blocked they cannot get to the hospital mortuary to reach Jon Paul.”
The funeral directors’ office has since been shut, along with most businesses on the island, but Steven told the Reformer yesterday (Tuesday) that he would be returning over the next few days to try and get all the necessary paperwork completed. Steve revealed that while insurers Axa paid for Jon Paul’s repatriation, they did not cover Craig’s return flight costs or his hotel bills.
After faithfully caring for his fiance and being at his bedside when he died, devastated Craig was left penniless and unable to get home.
Steve has paid around £2500 to get Craig home and has taken another week off work to remain on Reunion island to sort out Jon Paul’s repatriation.
Steve said: “The quicker I got Craig home off the island the better after everything he’s been through.
“He was due back in Glasgow on Saturday and I’ll stay on the island another 7-10 days to sort everything out for Jon Paul.
“It’s been a terrible situation for everyone and I’m angry that the insurance company are not covering any of Craig’s personal expenses too.
“I’ve raised an official complaint with Axa because both of their names were on that insurance document.
“And Craig was only on the island because the insurance company insisted they both travel to Reunion for medical treatment. It was never in their original plans to go there.”
Jon Paul and Craig had been on a dream holiday in South Africa, Madagascar and were planning to go to the Seychelles to celebrate their engagement earlier this year and the end of Jon Paul’s chemotherapy.
However, Jon Paul’s cancer returned and he was airlifted to Reunion for medical treatment where his condition quickly deteriorated.
It has been a terrible situation for everyone and I’m angry with the insurance company