'We thought my brother got food poisoning on Greek holiday - days later he died'
One man received a call from his older brother, telling him that during his holiday to Greece he thought he had caught food poisoning - he didn't realise this would be the last time they ever spoke.
Richard 'Decky' Thomas lived the lifestyle of a "naturally fit" and "strong" 29 year old when he fell ill on a trip to Greece in the summer of 2017. A rugby player and owner of a scaffolding company from Gorseinon, Decky was feared and respected on the pitch but a "big, friendly giant" off it, said his brother Jason Thomas, 33. But on June 17, 2017, Jason got a call from his older brother to say he was going into hospital following what he thought was a bad case of food poisoning.
Richard and his younger brother Jason during a trip to France (Jason Thomas)Jason had no idea then that it would be the last time he would ever speak to his beloved big brother. Speaking to WalesOnline, he said: "The last words he ever said to me was 'I'll see you when I get out.' The day after, I had a phone call saying he'd taken a turn for the worse and by the time I'd got halfway up to the hospital he'd passed away."
Jason, still reeling from the sudden loss of his big brother, said: "Nothing felt real to be honest with you. I couldn't eat, sleep. It took me about five days to eat. I couldn't sit and watch TV for about six months. I just couldn't live my life or accept it. I wasn't allowing myself to accept it. I didn't believe it happened because it was such a shock and it was so quick. He's my big brother, he's not meant to die early."
The brothers had been inseparable, sharing the same circle of friends after years of playing rugby and training, drinking down the pub and going on trips abroad together, said Jason. When Richard fell ill on holiday, he visited a Greek hospital for treatment before flying home and going straight to Morriston Hospital.
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Jason explained: "He said 'I'll have it in a bit' because he was in the middle of watching rugby online. He was watching that and the next thing, he had a cardiac arrest and that's when everything happened,"
Richard, who had been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy - a disease that affects the heart muscle - led an active lifestyle. He was a business owner, gym enthusiast and played weekly rugby matches. His brother Jason explained that Richard's heart disease caused his sudden passing, but he hadn't realised how serious his illness was.
Richard's family and friends have set up an annual touch rugby tournament at Loughor RFC in his memory, raising almost £40k for the Inherited Cardiac Condition (ICC) Service in Morriston Hospital (Swansea Bay, University Health Board)"We knew he had dilated cardiomyopathy. He found out he had it when he broke his sternum playing rugby. When he had an x-ray, the doctors said he had an enlarged heart and when he got tested for it, he didn't really have any knowledge of the illness. So when he was diagnosed, he didn't really know the extent of the illness. I've got it myself but I don't have it as severe as he had. But, obviously, I'm on medication for it and I have regular check-ups. It looks like it's hereditary, my father, grandfather and uncle have it too," Jason shared.
Decky's funeral saw hundreds of people in attendance, with a crowd that seemed endless, according to Jason. The rugby community came together to celebrate the life of a much-loved player. A wake was held at Loughor RFC where a record amount was spent at the bar. ""He was a popular guy, everyone knew him. Everyone wanted to sit with him and have a pint with him. If there was any trouble you knew you were safe with him. The only thing to say was he was my big brother. He was everything a big brother was meant to be for me," Jason said.
Richard's family and friends have set up an annual touch rugby tournament at Loughor RFC in his memory, raising almost £40k for the Inherited Cardiac Condition (ICC) Service in Morriston Hospital. The tournament is organised each year by Councillor Andrew Stevens who was a close friend of Decky's.
This year, the sixth annual Decky's Memorial Touch Rugby Tournament raised nearly £7k. "Every year the day the goes great and the money raised always exceeds expectations. We are most thankful for the work that Andrew puts in to make the tournament so successful, every year it gets better and better. The legacy it's bringing to my brother is very close to our hearts. I think it's something that's never going to be forgotten."
Consultant cardiologist Dr Carey Edwards, who leads the ICC service, said: "The amount of work Decky's family and friends put in to raise money for the ICC really is tremendous. It really helps the department flourish and grow. And, more than that, they help raise the profile of inherited cardiac conditions, which is incredibly important."
Jason, speaking about his late brother Decky, shared: "He was a big, friendly giant. On the rugby pitch, you'd rather he be on your side than against you. But off the pitch, he would have done anything for anyone. We played against each other and with each other. I have enough memories to last me a lifetime. I knew whenever I was with him I was safe. He wouldn't have had it any other way. He looked out for his family and friends and he was loyal."
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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