Annie Evans-Lewis, 21, from Wales, died in Australia after suffering a seizure while behind the wheel of her car – her family have faced a financial fight to bring her home
A devastated family is facing a £35,000 bill to bring home a young Brit who died after suffering a seizure behind the wheel and was discovered by her boyfriend.
Annie Evans-Lewis, 21, from Wales, died tragically in Australia after she had moved there to started an exciting new life with her boyfriend Cai.
From Carmarthen, Annie, suffered catastrophic injuries after she reportedly swerved off a road near the city of Perth and slammed into a tree. She died the same day.
Her family was told by doctors that she had suffered a seizure while behind the wheel.
Family and friends have said the pain of losing Annie has been “indescribable”. They said she was “energetic, chaotic and hilarious”.
A fundraiser has been launched so Annie, who bravely fought leukaemia as a child, can be brought home for a funeral in Wales. Their expenses include repatriation costs, funeral care fees in Australia and flights for family members.
So far, the GoFundMe page set up by cousin Emily Davies has raised just under £40,000, above the original target of £35,000.
The page said: “Annie was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, girlfriend, and a friend to many. She will always be remembered as the most energetic, chaotic, hilarious, loving, kind and down to earth person.”
In an update on May 27. Emily said Annie’s mum Angharad and auntie Tanta had boarded a plane with their cousin Anthony.
She wrote: “Once again, on behalf of everyone, I’d like to thank every single one of you for these donations. The response from this page has been unbelievable, and in such a difficult time for us all, this has provided us with the silver lining that we really needed.
“These proceeds will first be used to pay for the fees required by the funeral home in Perth, as well as the repatriation fees.
“Annie’s passing was so sudden and unexpected. There was be no way we would be able to easily cover these costs without the donations that have been provided by you, and for that, we will be eternally grateful.”
The tragedy beset a young couple who were building a new life together. Boyfriend Cai held Annie’s hands in her final moments after she had been airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital.
Cai, 22, told the BBC he wanted a future where both of them were “old and watching our grandchildren running around”.
He said: “She was everything and with her gone, I don’t know what to do with myself.”
Aged 18, Cai had travelled to New Zealand to work on a farm but returned home because he was missing Annie.
He completed another farming season there and secured a three-year farming sponsorship in Australia. Annie joined him Down Under in September last year.
On the day of Annie’s death, Cai and his girlfriend were enjoying a rare day off together. He had dropped her off to collect her car form a farm nearby and as he was returning from a workshop, noticed a car that had come off the road. It was Annie,
“I realised who it was, and my life changed instantly,” he said.
Mum Angharad said her daughter was her “whole life”. She would “always be my beautiful darling daughter, my amazing princess”, she said.
Angharad said: “You were the most amazing, strong brave little girl with what you fought through.”
She added: “The fun and laughter we had will always live with me for the rest of my life,” she said.
“The silly crazy things we would get up to – we were more like best friends.
“I will never be the same without you in my life my Annie, my angel.”
Emily also said: “I speak on behalf of my whole family when I say the response from this so far has been overwhelmingly incredible and we can’t thank each and every one of you enough.
“This massive amount of support has provided relief and comfort to us all, with one less barrier in not only getting Annie home, but giving her the absolute best send off that she deserves too – and if you knew her, you’ll know that she will be watching over us and making sure it is the best.”
