Family of England fan who died ahead of Bulgaria game ‘absolutely broken’
Written by News on 16/10/2019
The family of an England football fan who died before Monday’s Bulgaria game have said they are “absolutely broken” as they ask for help to bring his body home.
Katie Brown, from Staffordshire, said the family is struggling to come to terms with the the loss of her brother, Rob Spray, who died in Sofia ahead of England’s 2020 qualifier.
Bulgaria’s interior ministry said the 32-year-old was found in a “helpless condition” when he was discovered in the city centre on Monday morning.
It said he was taken to hospital but died there. Police are working to find out exactly what happened.
The circumstances of his death are so far unclear.
In a Facebook post linked to a GoFundMe page launched by friends, Mrs Brown said: “We need to get my brother home.
“Could you please help my absolutely broken family get their son back and my brother back home.
“Anything left over will be given to prostate cancer which my dad is fighting. We don’t know what’s happened.”
The fundraising page, called “Get Spray back home”, had exceeded its £10,000 target within 14 hours as donations reached more than £12,100.
Roger Wootton and Sam Tongue, who set up the fundraiser, wrote: “Don’t know exactly what’s happened but we do know Spray was the nicest softest lad everyone ever met.
“What happened is nothing but a tragedy. We all need to come together to support Spray’s family as much as we can.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died following an incident in Sofia, and our staff are in contact with the UK and Bulgarian authorities.”
The bodies of Britons who die abroad have to be repatriated by family and friends, who bear the cost.
Sky News has contacted Mrs Brown for a comment.
(c) Sky News 2019: Family of England fan who died ahead of Bulgaria game ‘absolutely broken’
