Holiday Excursion Tragedy Saw Husband Pulled Dead From The Sea At Paradise Island

A widow from Swindon is marking the fifth anniversary of her husband’s death on a dream holiday, to warn holidaymakers of the dangers of poorly planned holiday excursions.

Roy Fawcett, a 58 year old project manager, died after a snorkelling excursion in October 2017 turned an all-inclusive ‘holiday of a lifetime’ to the Dominican Republic into a nightmare and left the family still searching for answers and struggling to come to terms with Roy’s death.

The couple had booked the excursion two days before the end of their holiday. While Susan had stayed in the shallows, Roy went into deeper waters off Paradise Island snorkelling with another group, but was later spotted face down and not moving.

Despite efforts to revive Roy, he was pronounced dead in hospital on the same day. The inquest in September 2018 saw the coroner state that Roy died from ‘accidental drowning on a poorly monitored holiday excursion.’

On returning to the UK, Roy’s widow Susan Fawcett, 60, instructed specialist international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her husband’s death that, almost five years on, still leaves the family no closer to the truth of what led to Roy’s death.

Sue and her husband took the trip on their understanding that it was being provided by TUI, who they had booked the holiday through in the UK. With the next court date set for January 2023, and the fifth anniversary of her husband’s death approaching, the support worker has spoken out on the importance of being aware of what to look out for when booking excursions abroad.

Expert Opinion

“Sue has undergone every holidaymaker’s worst nightmare, after a much planned dream holiday left her to return home having lost her husband and still with many unanswered questions surrounding his death.

“We’re determined to support Sue as her case continues and her warning to holidaymakers is well-timed, as what looks set to be a busy summer season for UK holidaymakers approaches.

“Sue’s warning about checking carefully any planned excursions and confirming exactly who the organisers are can make a big difference and will help to ensure that no other family has to suffer in the same way.” Philip Banks - Partner

The excursion on 12 October 2017 included several holidaymakers, some who assisted in getting Roy onto the beach, from where he was taken by boat to the mainland and then hospital.

Sue says that she and Roy only booked the trip under the impression it was provided by their tour operator TUI, who deny liability for his death and say the excursion did not form part of the all-inclusive package booked by the couple.

Roy was a dedicated family man and leaves behind the couple’s son Nathan and Sue’s daughter Sabrina.

Sue Fawcett said: “Despite the time that has passed, I can never forget that terrible day or how what was meant to be a fun day at the end of a holiday of a lifetime could go so horribly wrong.

“I have lost my husband, our children have lost their father and what we are all left with are a lot of unanswered questions concerning that trip and its aftermath.

“Roy and I would never have gone had we not been convinced it was organised by TUI, as we believed official excursions were the best way to make the most of our dream holiday.

“Given our experience, I would urge all holidaymakers to make sure they know who is organising any trips they are planning and that proper safety precautions are in place. Nothing can bring Roy back but if we can get some answers and other families are aware of the risks, it means Roy’s death will not have been in vain.”

The trial of the case is listed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in January 2023 and is expected to last for five days.