British tourist, 24, dies on Sri Lanka dream holiday after 'hostel fumigated for bedbugs'
A British tourist has died in hospital on her 'dream holiday' to Sri Lanka. Travel influencer Ebony McIntosh set off from Heathrow Airport to Sri Lanka on January 28.
But her stay at a hostel in the country was 'cruelly cut short' just two days later. Ebony's distressed family members have said they are in the midst of a 'nightmare' as they fundraise to get the body of their 'beautiful baby girl' returned to the UK.
They say the 24-year-old was one of several people sent to hospital last week, with others vomiting and struggling to breathe. The bedroom next to the one Ebony was staying in was also reportedly fumigated for bed bugs.
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A GoFundMe fundraiser has since been launched, Mirror reports. Organiser India McIntosh, who is Ebony's younger sister, said she 'took very ill' in the hostel.
It is understood the hostel has since been closed. Several other people are understood to have been treated in hospital for 'vomiting' and 'nausea'.
Ebony suffered difficulty breathing and died on February 1 - less than a week after she arrived in Sri Lanka. India wrote: "We cannot even begin to imagine how scared she must have felt at the time and it hurts us so badly to think of the pain she was in."
Ebony passed away 'with someone from the hostel beside her' who stayed with her 'during her last moments'. India said the family is 'endlessly grateful' to the man.
They now hope to bring Ebony 'home where she belongs'. Local reports have suggested a German couple also fell ill following the alleged fumigation of the room, which is believed to have been sealed for 72 hours following the treatment for bed bugs.
Authorities are yet to confirm whether the fumigation played a role in her death. An exact cause has not yet been given.
Ebony's body will not be released until Sri Lankan authorities complete a post-mortem. Her family is now fundraising to have her returned home as tributes flood social media.
India wrote: "The authorities in Sri Lanka are not allowed to release Ebony to us until a full post mortem has been completed. There is also an ongoing investigation because of the tragic circumstances linked to how she died.
"We are desperate and cannot wait any longer to see her and to bring her home. We are raising money for flight costs, hotel accommodation, emergency passports, vaccinations, visas and funeral services to give her the best send off that she deserves.
"We need to be with our beautiful Ebony as soon as possible, we hate the thought of her being alone in a foreign country. We want to be able to bring her back home safely to rest. We just need to look after our angel." Click here to see the fundraiser.