Newport grandmother dies after choking on steak on holiday

A “beautiful” grandmother has died after choking on a piece of steak while on holiday in Spain.

Ceri Ball, 74, died following the incident in a restaurant in the coastal town of Peñíscola, near Valencia, after a “lovely” day out with her husband Glyn.

Her daughter, Lisa Lisseman, said despite the best efforts of restaurant staff and emergency services, Mrs Ball, from Newport, died in hospital on 17 October.

Her family said they had been left in “total agony and shock” but thanked a Welsh charity for arranging Mrs Ball’s repatriation.

Ms Lisseman said her parents had been in Spain since the middle of August in their “beloved home from home”.

She said: “Mum choked on a piece of steak and quickly lost consciousness. So many people tried to help her, the paramedics were there in five or so minutes.”

However, Mrs Ball, who has been described as her husband’s “soulmate” and the “glue” of her family, had been starved of oxygen for too long, her family said.

They are being supported by The Repatriation Services Trust, a charity set up to help people bring loved ones home after a death overseas.

It was founded by Steve and Linda Bassett, from Cardiff, whose son Tom died after being hit by a drink-driver while on a stag weekend in Dubai.

Shocked by the lack of official support, they decided to help others in the same harrowing situation.

Ms Lisseman said her family were now fundraising for the charity, which she said had been “a blessing” during an “awful” time.

“My sister and I were on the next plane out to Spain,” she said.

“Through heartbreak and confusion we in Spain and family in the UK tried to navigate the process to get [mum] home.

“That in itself was so difficult but then there was the added worry of financing this unexpected tragic situation we found ourselves in.”