What was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of their lives quickly turned into a devastating tragedy for a British family.
Just a day before his son’s wedding in Cyprus, 60-year-old John Fazackerley, a grandfather from Cheshire, tragically drowned while playing in the pool with his grandchildren.
A Sudden and Shocking Turn of Events
John had flown to Paphos, Cyprus, to celebrate his son Sean’s wedding to fiancée Vicky — a joyful event they had been planning for months. But on May 25, everything changed.
While enjoying a playful swim with the grandkids, John slipped under the water and didn’t resurface.
It was around 2:30 PM when guests at the hotel realized something was wrong and rushed to pull him out, immediately starting CPR.
Confusion and Delays at the Resort
As loved ones tried to save him poolside, Sean, who is 30 years old, said the hotel staff appeared unprepared for such an emergency.
According to him, not only was it difficult to locate a defibrillator, but when they eventually found one — tucked away in a cupboard near reception — no one knew how to use it.
A family member ended up operating the device themselves.
A Hospital Trip That Only Raised More Questions
Roughly 15 minutes after the incident, an ambulance arrived to take John to Paphos General Hospital.
Shockingly, the family wasn’t allowed to accompany him in the ambulance. They instead followed behind by taxi, but things didn’t get any easier upon arrival.
The hospital staff demanded John’s passport details to proceed, but the documents were locked in a hotel safe — and only John knew the access code.
Waiting Outside with Heavy Hearts
While Sean’s mother Julie was allowed into the hospital, the rest of the family had no choice but to sit outside, waiting on plastic chairs for any updates.
Sean described the situation as chaotic and deeply frustrating, especially as they scrambled to access the passport details that were holding up treatment.
A Painful Moment Made Worse by a Lack of Empathy
Eventually, the family received the heartbreaking news — John hadn’t survived.
But Sean says the way it was delivered only added to their grief.
He recalled that hospital staff told them the news in a public area, with doors open and strangers walking by.
They were given just five minutes with John, and Sean said the staff showed very little compassion in such a devastating moment.
Raising Funds and Searching for Answers
Since John’s passing, Sean and his family have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of repatriating his father’s body back to the UK.
The process has been slow and painful, with confusion over the postmortem and a general lack of communication from local authorities.
Sean says he feels forgotten and let down — but he’s determined to keep pushing for answers from both the Cypriot government and local police.
Honouring His Father at the Wedding
Despite the emotional turmoil, Sean and Vicky decided to go ahead with the wedding, choosing to include a special tribute to John.
They placed a photo of him beside a cooler of beers — a nod to the one thing John had said he was most looking forward to at the reception: an ice-cold drink.
“We set up a picture of him next to an ice bucket full of beers so he was there with us,” Sean said.
Coping with Loss and Supporting One Another
Now back in the UK, Sean and Vicky are focused on supporting Sean’s mother Julie, who has moved in with the newlyweds for the time being.
The family continues to grieve the loss of a man who meant so much to them.
John, a retired builder, was known for his love of fishing and being an ever-present, loving grandfather.
Remembering a Man Who Lived for His Family
“His final moments were with his grandkids, playing.
He was a very family-orientated man,” Sean shared. “We miss him so much — especially the grandkids.”
In the face of unimaginable loss, the Fazackerley family is holding on to their memories and leaning on one another to move forward.