Tragedy as British dad dies in hotel swimming pool on holiday | World | News
A British man has drowned while on holiday in the Gambia, his devastated daughter have said.
The family of Michael Clarke,64, from Yorkshire are trying to repatriate his body following the tragic accident and have set up a Gofundme campaign to do so.
The accident happened at approximately 6.30am on December 31 last year at the swimming pool of Mansea Beach Hotel, located in Kololi, on the Atlantic coast of the popular West African country.
At the time, the pool was unmanned, and there were no staff or lifeguards present to assist. After entering the pool, Clarke, is suspected to have suffered cardiac arrest, believed to have been triggered by the low water temperature.
With no immediate help available, he drowned in the pool.
His daughter Victoria Walker who is spearheading the GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds to repatriate her father’s body home said: “My father had lived with depression for over 20 years, a condition he carried quietly and with resilience.
“In recent months, he had begun a genuine healing journey, focusing on his mental health and rebuilding a sense of peace. This trip was deeply significant, 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. Our family is still trying to process how a trip intended for healing and rest ended in such sudden tragedy.”
Speaking from Sheffield, Victoria said that she would be very grateful for help and support which would help cover the funeral and repatriation costs.
She said: “We are reaching out to ask for your help — any donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward bringing him home and giving him the farewell he deserves.”
As of Sunday, January 4, the GoFundMe page set up in Clarke’s name has raised more than £1,200 from 40 donations and is aiming to raise $10,000 for his family.
