A BRITISH gran has tragically died after choking to death on a piece of steak while holidaying with her husband in Spain.
Ceri Ball, 74, was at a restaurant with her partner, Glyn, 77, when the bit of meat got lodged in her throat and she was rushed to hospital.
The pair were in the coastal town of Peñíscola, where they own a holiday home, on October 17.
Waiters performed the Heimlich manoeuvre on the gran, but the food remained stuck.
Paramedics then treated the “beloved” mum at the scene but were only able to dislodge the steak after 20 minutes.
They rushed Ceri to the Comarcal de Vinaròs Hospital, where she was put on life-support.
But after not breathing for 20 minutes, her condition was so severe she tragically died soon after.
Her two daughters flew out to be with their mum and recalled the heart-wrenching moment they were informed of her death.
Daughter Lisa told Wales Online: “We are all in total agony. My mum was the glue of our family. She had such a kind heart and she was so proud of her family.
She praised the hospital staff who, she said, had worked tirelessly to try and save their mum.
But despite their best efforts, her condition was “too severe” as she had spent “too long” unable to breathe.
The family brought their mum’s body back home with the help of The Repatriation Services Trust.
Lisa has since set up a GoFundMe to raise money for the charity, which she said helped them “bear the burden of this tragic event”.
The organisation supports families through the process of bringing deceased loved ones home – often fronting very high costs.
She wrote: “They’ve been so amazing. I contacted Steve and he asked what we needed help with and without further question he said: ‘Sorted’ and they’ve taken that financial strain from us.
“Dad had savings but not enough for life. Without help from this charity all of our savings would have been wiped.
“It is difficult to put into words how much their support meant to us all and we want to help them continue in their selfless quest.”
Ceri met her husband when she was just 17 and the pair spent 57 happy years together.
“They were soulmates,” Lisa said, describing the couple as inseparable.
