Grandad Jeff Cantwell dies after attack while in The Gambia on charity work
A grandad has died after he was attacked while away doing charity work in Africa.
The family of a grandad killed in Africa while there doing charity work has spoken of their shock. Jeff Cantwell died after being mugged by two men trying to steal his phone.
The 79-year-old had been living in Brusubi, located near the western coast of The Gambia, since 2012. He worked with a variety of charities on different projects, including finding sponsorship for school uniforms and arranging medical supplies for hospitals in remote areas.
At between 7-8pm on Sunday (November 23), Jeff left his compound to meet some friends at a restaurant when two men jumped him, according to his family. Friends thought something was wrong when Jeff, originally from Oldham in Greater Manchester, hadn't arrived and wasn't picking up his phone.
They went to his house where they found him injured but still alive. However, Jeff sadly died upon arrival at hospital. He had only returned to The Gambia at the beginning of October following a six-month trip to the UK to see his family, who are based in Hollinwood, Oldham.
Jeff's heartbroken daughter Janine Cantwell, 52, said: "Yesterday we got a message from one of my dads friends in Gambia that my dad had passed away. This was quite a shock as he only went back to Gambia on October 1st after being with me for six months but what is more shocking and upsetting is that he had been attacked.”
She continued: "We don't know the full story yet. I have been in contact with the foreign office but they don't know any more at the moment. I have even spoken to the Inspector of CID in Gambia where they have opened an investigation, to me and to my family our dad has been murdered and we have no answers apart from shock.
"They assaulted and mugged a 79 year old man that ended up killing him but what I know of my dad he would have fought back. I will hopefully be travelling to Gambia next week to make funeral arrangements. I know it will be a struggle as right now we are full of hurt, anger and a feeling of being in limbo and lost but we will get through it."
Danielle Egerton, 32, has set up a GoFundMe campaign for her mother-in-law, Janine, to raise money to bring his body back to the UK. Danielle said it could cost them up to £10,000 to bring him home along with a fee each day Jeff's body is kept in the morgue.
Jeff had two other sons, Mark and Andy, as well as three grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Speaking on behalf of the family, Danielle said everyone is “absolutely heartbroken” by Jeff’s death and the family has very little information about what happened but are finding out “a bit more every day”.
She said: “They just can’t believe that it’s happened. He always loved it there, it’s where he was his happiest. I have looked online and it says it can cost between £3,000 and £10,000 to bring him home. But we won't know about the full cost until Janine can visit the country."
An Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in The Gambia and are in contact with the local authorities.”