RIP: Tributes flow for young Tipperary dad after unexpected death in Thailand hospital

Tributes have poured in from across Ireland following the death of a young Tipperary dad who passed away in hospital after suffering a medical emergency in Thailand.

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Billy Ashford (25) was rushed to hospital last week after falling seriously ill. He was placed on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but sadly passed away, his family has confirmed.

His aunt, Keisha Hannon, announced the heartbreaking news on Monday. She had set up a GoFundMe page to help with Billy’s medical expenses and now says the family needs support to bring him home and cover funeral costs.

“It’s with the saddest heart that I need to tell ye all my nephew sadly passed. Right now we’re trying to get him home. Please, any donation big or small will help towards the funeral cost. Fly high Billy #forever25,” Keisha wrote in an update on the ‘my nephew who fell ill abroad’ GoFundMe page.

More than €6,300 has already been raised by generous donors. Keisha thanked “all those who thought of us and prayed and donated for my handsome nephew.”

Billy, who was dad to a young son named Callum, has been remembered as “a great friend” and “such a young lad gone far too soon.”

One mourner wrote: “Forever young, my friend Billy. You have touched many hearts brother and Cleo, he will look down on you, Karen, old Billy and Callum and of course Ornagh Harding, the mother of his beautiful son. Me, Ian and Billy grew up together. We have lost a piece of our childhood today.”

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