Tragedy as much-loved Birmingham dad dies after freak Turkey holiday accident

A much-loved Birmingham dad left in a coma following a freak accident on holiday has died, his devastated family confirmed. Marlon McCormack, 51, suffered a bleed on the brain after falling while using gym equipment at his hotel in Turkey on a last-minute holiday with his family.

The dad-of-two, from Chelmsley Wood, passed away on the morning of May 5 after being placed in an induced coma as doctors fought to save his life. Tragically, he died just minutes before his two daughters were allowed to see him at his bedside, the Daily Mail reports.

Marlon's two daughters, Renelle McCormack, 27, and her 16-year-old sister, flew to the resort of Alanya after being told by doctors he had just '24 hours to live' after his organs failed. It was reported that when they were eventually allowed into their father's room, they were informed he had died 30 minutes earlier.

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More than £26,000 has been raised for the Birmingham family online. Cherry Ryan, who organised the fundraiser, said the money would be used to bring Marlon's body home and pay outstanding medical bills.

The Daily Mail reported that the family's hospital bill stood at £23,000 - which had been covered by members of the public. Cherry said on Marlon's GoFundMe page: "Thank you so much for your support and help, we could not do this without you."

In an update posted before his passing, Cherry said: "He's amazing with kids. He loves his mum and would do anything for her, he has an unbelievable amount of friends! He's a hard worker, who raises when people are a sleep, work all day then go straight to help a friend or family in need before resting.

"He will literally help anyone in need, he accepts anyone for who they are, he will talk the head off strangers. He is so forgiving and such a giving person."

Marlon had been enjoying a night out with his two daughters and fiance, Anna Ryan, before he suffered the accident at his resort's gym. He woke up with ‘no feeling on one side of his body’ and was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma.

After receiving more than a week of critical care, and undergoing surgery which failed to remove all the blood from his brain, his family racked up a huge debt of around £30,000. Renelle told the Daily Mail: "We got the news that he had 24 hours left and his organs were failing so me and my sister got the next flight to say goodbye. We arrived in the early hours and went to the hotel where we went to sleep. The hotel was 30 seconds from the hospital, so we went straight there first thing.

"We got there and they told us to sit down in the waiting area, so we sat down there for half an hour before we went up. The surgeon met us outside ICU, as he usually did, to give us an update. But it wasn't an update. The update was that he had died 30 minutes ago. It was the worst feeling ever."

Renelle has organised a celebration of life event in memory of her beloved dad. The event will be held in Birmingham on May 17 and will help to raise money 'to get him home and give him the send off he deserves'.