A British lady has died on vacation in Sri Lanka after a room in her hostel was fumigated for mattress bugs, native police stated.
Ebony McIntosh, 24, from Derby, was taken to hospital within the capital Colombo on Saturday after changing into ailing.
She had reportedly suffered vomiting, nausea and respiration difficulties – however died there hours later.
One other lady Nadie Raguse, 26, from Germany, who was additionally staying on the Miracle Colombo Metropolis Hostel died, Sri Lanka police stated.
The pressure’s spokesperson Buddhika Manatunga stated a room within the hostel had been fumigated for mattress bugs earlier than the ladies fell ailing – and that they’re investigating the potential for poisoning by noxious pesticides.
The hostel is closed till additional discover.
The digital advertising and social media supervisor’s household has arrange a GoFundMe web page to assist with the price of returning her physique to the UK.
‘Completely heartbroken’
A press release on the web page learn: “We’re completely heartbroken to share that our stunning child woman and massive sister Ebony has handed away unexpectedly on Saturday 1st February 2025, hundreds of miles away from residence.
“Words cannot begin to express how broken we are, it’s been like a nightmare since we found out on Sunday morning, we have prayed and prayed that this can’t be true. It couldn’t possibly happen to our lovely Ebs.”
The assertion added: “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. We need to be with her and bring her home safely.
“She handed away with somebody from the hostel beside her. We’re endlessly grateful to this man for staying together with her throughout her final moments.”
The household stated Ms McIntosh had began her vacation on 28 January when she flew from Heathrow to “follow her dreams of travelling all over South Asia, starting in Sri Lanka”.
They stated she was “full of excitement for her adventures ahead, in typical Ebony style she had spent months researching and planning and drawing up schedules for the coming months”.
“Her trip was cruelly cut short on Saturday 1st February, when she [was taken] very ill in the hostel she was staying in.”
A reason behind demise has not been established – and a autopsy examination can’t happen till the household arrives on 10 February, the police stated.
A Overseas, Commonwealth & Growth Workplace (FCDO) spokesperson confirmed: “We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Sri Lanka, and are in contact with the local authorities.”
