Dad's eerie final text to daughter about 'weird day' just before dying in hotel
A daughter has revealed the haunting final text message her dad sent her just 40 minutes before he was tragically killed in the Moroccan earthquake earlier this month.
David Barden had travelled to the African country to take part in a 1,600 mile charity bike ride from Agadir to Santander, Spain and was in the Tizi N’test mountain region when the 6.8 magnitude tremor hit, causing his hotel to collapse. The 71-year old's daughter, Sarah, explained the pair spoke every day and that she received a message from him just before the disaster. It read: "I'm at top of a mountain range in a place called Tizi n Test. A weird day.. xxx."
David's heartbroken daughter, Sarah, described her dad as her 'light and life' (Liverpool Echo)Sarah, 41, told the Liverpool Echo that retired teacher David had been due to stay at Hotel La Belle Vue in Tizi N’test that evening, but after a taxing day had chosen to book into the nearby Cafe Sunset instead. With his location unclear in the days following the quake, however, Sarah was unsure whether her dad was dead or alive and frantically called all the hotels in the area to ask for news on his whereabouts.
After contacting Hotel La Belle Vue where David originally planned to stay, its owner, Hamza Boumazough was able to provide Sarah with answers. "Without Hamza, who managed to clear the paths with authorities, we would not have found him," Sarah explained. "Hamza lost everything, his home and business and walked around eight kilometres to dig my dad from the rubble."
Tributes have since been paid to David, who Sarah described as being her "light and life". British Red Cross chief executive, Mike Adamson told the Echo: "Everyone at the British Red Cross is devastated to learn of the tragic death of our long-standing supporter Dave Barden in Morocco. Dave was an inspirational fundraiser whose recent efforts had seen him travel 12,000 miles through 20 different countries, raising over £4,000 to support people in the greatest need. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family at this very difficult time."
Blackpool hit by earthquake that sounded like rattling train as furniture shakes
The British Red Cross described David as an 'inspirational fundraiser' (Liverpool Echo)Deputy head teacher, Sarah Wilkinson, who worked with David for more than 10 years, said: "Dave had a love of cycling which he shared with the children. He organised a range of residential trips and cycling tours both home and abroad, because he was passionate that pupils with special needs should have the same opportunities as children in mainstream schools. Many children benefited from his knowledge and enthusiasm.
"He will be remembered as a kind, compassionate, thoughtful individual who had a creative flair and an inclusive attitude. Staff at the school have a 'Bonus Ball' charity fund, which has been used to donate £500 to the earthquake relief fund." Sarah added: "I have no idea how to go on without my dad. My dad was my light and life, the one to lift me up when I fell down, sometimes quite literally. He was resilient and restless.
"He has friends all over the world from Los Angeles to Beijing and Sydney because he was loyal to his core. We are all beyond devastated, shocked and in disbelief. I don't know what to do without him, we spoke every single day."
A fundraising page has been set up for Hamza, meanwhile, who despite being a victim of the earthquake himself, "hurried" to help people in the surrounding villages.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
