A 79-year-old British aid worker lost his life in Africa during a robbery attempt by two assailants aiming to steal his mobile phone. Jeff Cantwell had been residing in Brusubi on the western coast of The Gambia since 2012. On the evening of November 23, while heading to meet friends at a local restaurant, he was accosted by the attackers, according to his family.
Concern arose among his friends when Jeff, a resident of Oldham in Greater Manchester, failed to arrive at the designated meeting spot and was unreachable by phone. Upon visiting his home, they discovered him injured but still breathing. Sadly, he passed away upon arrival at the hospital.
The tragic news of Jeff’s demise was relayed to his family by one of his acquaintances. Known for his charitable endeavors, Jeff had been actively involved in various projects, such as securing sponsorships for school uniforms and facilitating medical supplies to remote hospitals.
Having recently returned to The Gambia from a six-month visit to the UK, where his family resides in Hollinwood, Oldham, Jeff’s unexpected death has left his loved ones devastated. His daughter, Janine Cantwell, expressed shock and sorrow over the circumstances surrounding her father’s passing.
Danielle Egerton, 32, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist Janine in covering expenses to repatriate Jeff’s body to the UK. The family faces mounting costs while Jeff’s remains are held in a morgue in The Gambia. They are also striving to gather funds for Janine’s journey to The Gambia to bring back her father.
Danielle revealed that the family remains shattered by the loss of Jeff and is in the dark about the specifics of the incident. Janine is set to travel to The Gambia to seek answers and address the arrangements for her father’s funeral. The British authorities are collaborating with their Gambian counterparts to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jeff’s tragic demise.