Tommy 'Spike' McCormack and Karen Guthrie. Image: GoFundMe. Over €60,000 has been raised so far.
A fundraising campaign has been set up to assist in repatriating the body of Leitrim man Tommy 'Spike' McCormack, who tragically died while on his honeymoon in Croatia.
Mr McCormack collapsed while out walking in Split with his wife Karen Guthrie on Saturday morning.
The Irish Sun reports he may have died of a heart attack.
A powerlifting champion, 35-year-old Tommy hailed from Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.
He and his wife were enjoying the holiday of a lifetime in Croatia, a year after tying the knot in May 2018.
In a post on Facebook, Karen said that she was in utter shock:
"He was my soul mate. My best friend. My husband," she wrote.
"Words cannot express how much love I have for him and I know he had for me too.
"I'm devastated. I may be alone on an island in the middle of Croatia but let me tell you I can feel all the love from each and every person who loved him."
GoFundMe.
As Tommy's family's attention turns to bringing his body back home to Ireland, over €60,000 has so far been raised in assistance via a GoFundMe page.
"The funds raised will go towards facilitating the most comfortable final journey for our beloved Spike," Karen's sister Michelle wrote on the page.
They are also hoping to make a donation to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which supports families who lose a loved one abroad.
"Without the trust we would truely be lost," Michelle continued.
"Their ability to promptly respond in our time of need has been invaluable. We would like to pay it forward by collecting funds for families when they experience tragedies like this."
If you wish to donate to the cause, you can do so here.
