Grieving parents on journey to scatter child’s ashes
THE devastated parents of a Birmingham man who died while working in Egypt are planning an emotional trip east to scatter the ashes of their only child.
Barry and Jean, both aged 70, will later this month set off for the coastal town of Dahab, where “extremely fit” 43-year-old Lee Price died after suffering a heart attack on July 18 this year.
The former Heathlands Primary and Byng Kendrick Secondary schoolboy had been working as a scuba diving instructor.
Mrs Price, of Coleshill Road, Castle Bromwich, said: “Lee sent a text saying he had a bad stomach, which he would never normally do.
“I rang back 15 minutes later, but there was no answer. I thought that was strange, but the third time I rang, a friend answered and said Lee’s in hospital. I said ‘Lee’s dead isn’t he’ and he said ‘yes, I’m sorry’.
“He was my only son and for him to die at 43, I can’t believe it. For a while we were clinging to the chance that it was wrong.
“His post-mortem said he was an extremely fit man, but one main artery was completely blocked – they think smoking was a factor.”
Mr Price, who has suffered three heart attacks himself, added: “I broke down. It was horrible, I was devastated.
“It still hurts. We have our bad moments, but then we stop, and we start again. We’re getting better, but you never, never forget.”
The couple are hoping their trip to Egypt will ease the pain of losing Lee, a keen horse rider, artist, surfer and former Vespa-owning Mod.
The trip will also see Mrs Price turn 71 and the couple mark their golden wedding anniversary.
“We’re looking forward to going and at the same time not looking forward to going,” said Mr Price.
“We want to celebrate Lee’s life and we’ve got to try to move on.”
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