A YOUNG British teacher died just minutes after speaking to his mum on the phone about coming home.
Bradley Hall, 25, passed away suddenly in Shanghai, China, where he had worked for two years as a teacher.
Just 90 minutes before his death, Bradley had been chatting away to his mum Lindsey back in Teeside.
They were planning his upcoming trip home – but tragically it never happened.
Lindsey was surprised to see Bradley’s number phoning back shortly after they’d hung up.
Devastatingly, it wasn’t her son but a friend who broke the awful news that Bradley was dead.
The Teeside University graduate could have suffered a heart-related issue, the authorities said.
After signing off on a post-mortem in China, they were told it would cost them £3,000.
Bradley’s grieving family are now trying to arrange for his body to be flown home.
Lindsey told TeessideLive: “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.”
UK authorities, according to his stepfather, Marc Henderson-Thynne, have mentioned the possibility of a second post-mortem being necessary once Bradley’s body is repatriated.
Marc, 56, said information is “scarce” at the moment.
Bradley was described by his family as “fit as a fiddle”.
They said he was a healthy 25-year-old whose life revolved around the gym, his teaching work and dog walks.
Marc said: “He was fit, he trained, he didn’t smoke, didn’t drink.
He was never in any trouble, he didn’t like violence, he loved football and had a season ticket before.”
Bradley’s aunt set up a GoFundMe page to help his parents cover the repatriation costs, estimated at £18,000.
The campaign set up by his family states: “Tragically, on May 10th, our beloved 25-year-old nephew Bradley passed away unexpectedly while in China. We are initiating this effort with the hope of lessening the burden on his parents.”
“He was working out there as a teacher, as a family, we are absolutely devastated and heartbroken.
“We are working with the authorities here and in China to bring him home.
“Given the circumstances, the expenses involved are significant, and as we prepare for his return, we are faced with the challenge of arranging a funeral – an unforeseen responsibility for any parent. Any contribution, large or small, would be greatly appreciated. Surplus funds from this endeavor will be directed to the Finley Cooper Foundation in honor of Bradley.”
More than £5,500 has been raised so far.
