Heartbroken partner of Brit found dead with blood on lips in Bali breaks silence

15 September 2023 , 12:50

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British national Simon Atkin, 68, was "so happy in the sun" and loved living in Bali because of its people and their sense of community (Image: Supplied)

A British man whose body was found beside a bottle of vodka and prescription drugs had struggled with alcoholism throughout his life and died because he couldn't get sober, according to the wife he left behind.

Simon Atkin, 68, lived in Janan Villa in Sanur, south of Denapsar in Bali, with his life partner Rosemary Thornton, who has spoken exclusively with the Mirror after her husband's tragic death. Simon was found lying on the floor of their villa beside a half-empty bottle of vodka, a number of prescription pills, and had "blood on his lips". Apart from the blood, police said there were no other outward visible injuries.

Initial reports said that Simon was an Australian citizen living on the popular tourist hotspot island, but he was actually from the UK and retired to Bali after he met Rosemary 10 years ago. Police said yesterday that they were working to confirm a cause of death, but Rosemary told the Mirror the 68-year-old had been living with liver disease.

Simon and his wife of 10 years Rosemary sipping a cocktail in Bali (Supplied)

"He had [his] own company. 20 writers. But lost it in the global financial crash. He was very well-read and interesting. [He] had a passion for aircraft [and] knew their names and seat numbers. He was very kind, caring," she said.

But Simon also struggled with alcoholism. For years he had "sadness" in "not achieving what he hoped for", which "led him to drink", Rosemary said. "So yes, he died from liver disease."

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Just two years ago, Simon was bound to a hospital bed for four months due to the ravaging effects the alcohol had on his body. Despite getting better, he was unable to break his addiction.

Four years ago, Simon became gravely ill with liver disease but was unable to give up alcohol (Supplied)

Simon lost a number of loved ones and was sad with not achieving what he had hoped for in life, Rosemary said (Supplied)

"He could not turn his back on his best friend...the bottle," she explained.

She said her lover was "so happy in the sun" as she remembered how they enjoyed a "wonderful" retirement in Bali. She added: "And how much he loved its people ... They still have what the west has lost, a sense of community, helping one another."

The couple met 10 years ago while Simon was visiting his son, a scuba diving manager, on the Gili Islands. They messaged each other for a year before meeting again. Just five months later and Simon had moved to Bali, where the couple lived in Rosemary's rented accommodation.

The pair made several visits to Australia, but Simon did not want to move there because "the only problem with Australia is there are too many Australians."

Despite his demons, Simon was well-loved in the community he lived in, and a kind and caring husband and father, Rosemary said (Supplied)

Simon leaves behind Rosemary and his only son Sam (Supplied)

"We lived almost happily ever after", Rosemary told the Mirror. She added that Simon had also struggled with the guilt he felt after leaving his first wife Sadi, who still resides in their family home.

Simon is survived by his only son Sam Atkin, who was the "joy of his life" and his ashes will be laid to rest "with the likes of David Bowie whose ashes were (allegedly) spread off Sanur Beach" after his cremation set for later today.

Ryan Fahey