Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – A 64-year-old British national, Michael Clarke, has died after drowning in a hotel swimming pool in The Gambia on New Year’s Eve, prompting his family to appeal for financial assistance to return his body to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Clarke, from Yorkshire, was on holiday in The Gambia when the incident occurred on December 31 at the Mansea Beach Hotel in Kololi, a popular tourist area along the Atlantic coast.
According to his family, he was swimming in the hotel pool when he is believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest, reportedly triggered by the low water temperature.
Relatives say the pool was unmanned at the time, with no staff or lifeguards present to offer immediate assistance. With no help available, Mr Clarke drowned before he could be rescued.
The tragedy has left his family devastated, particularly as the trip marked a significant personal milestone for Mr. Clarke. His daughter, Victoria Walker, said her father had lived with depression for more than two decades and had only recently begun a renewed focus on his mental health and personal well-being.
“This trip was deeply significant,” she said. “It was his first time travelling away in 20 years, something he had worked hard to feel ready for. What makes this loss especially painful is that this was meant to be a moment of renewal for him, a step toward life, not the end of it.”
Speaking from Sheffield, Ms. Walker explained that the family is now struggling to meet the costs associated with funeral arrangements and the repatriation of her father’s body to the UK. To help cover the expenses, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign.
“We are reaching out to ask for your help,” she said. “Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward bringing him home and giving him the farewell he deserves.”
As of this week, the fundraising campaign has raised more than £1,200 from about 40 donations, with a target of $10,000. The family has expressed gratitude for the support received so far as they continue to navigate the emotional and financial toll of the tragedy.
