British teacher, 25, dies abroad 90 minutes after 'excited to come home' call
A British teacher working in China tragically passed away just 90 minutes after telling his mum how much he was looking forward to coming home.
Around an hour-and-a-half after chatting with her son Bradley, Lindsey Hall received a second call from the same number - but it wasn't her son on the other line. His friend was left to break the devastating news that her son had died.
Bradley, 25, who was from Middlesbrough, set off for China two years ago to work as a teacher. His heartbroken family has been left with additional pain on top of their grief as they struggle to repatriate his body back to the UK - where they hope they can find out what caused him to die so suddenly.
They were told he may have died as a result of an issue related to his heart. They approved the post-mortem in China, but were told the process would cost them £3,000. They've set up a GoFundMe in the hopes of raising enough cash to bring their boy home.
Lindsey told Teesside Live: "He was fit as a fiddle, 25-year-old, he went to the gym, went to work, went on dog walks," said mum Lindsey. "I got a call on Saturday, May 10.
"I was talking to my son an hour and a half beforehand, chit chatting away. Then he rang back. I said 'hiya son, alright?' but it was his friend to say he'd passed away.
"I used to message him every day to make sure he was ok. I just liked to hear his voice every day, we talked every day."
The 46-year-old mum said: "He was the most loveable person. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. He just wanted to work and have a good life travelling [...]
"He had so many plans and dreams, they're just shattered. We just want him home now so we can put him to rest."
The family were getting ready to see Bradley - who hadn't been home since July last year - next month after he booked tickets home.
Lindsey said: "He wasn't bothered about kids yet because he wanted to travel. He met someone, Joanna, they had a dog, a nice house. He loved his job because he loved working with kids.
"He absolutely loved it over there. He never wanted to come back to live here but he wanted to come back and see family and friends. He loved going to the gym with his brother Harvey. He loved life and he loved travelling, he just wanted to get out in this big wide world and see everything. He wanted to do loads. He was looking forward to coming home next month and seeing us.
"I was asking what food he wanted - a parmo - and he wanted to try see Oasis. He loved them, he was meant to be going to see Fontaines D.C. with his friends. His friends have been in touch with me and looking out for me. It feels like because he's not at home, I'm in a bubble. I know he's gone but I'm still in this bubble. When we do get him home I know it will hit me then. I just keep looking at his photo and thinking it's not real, it's not real, but I know it is."
"To be honest I've almost not wanted him back because then it's like it's not real. But it's been too long now, we need to lie him to rest."
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in China, and are in contact with local authorities'
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