British tourist dies on holiday to celebrate end of cancer treatment

A man who became stranded on a remote island while on holiday to mark the end of his cancer treatment has died.

Jon Paul McAllister travelled to Madagascar with his partner Craig Park to celebrate completing his chemotherapy and the couple’s recent engagement.

However soon after arriving for their once-in-a-lifetime trip, the 38-year-old fell ill and a scan revealed that the Scot’s stage-four bowel cancer had returned.

Wellwishers raised £25,000 to help get Mr McAllister home, but on Saturday he revealed that he was deemed too sick to fly back to Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire.

Jon Paul McAllister (left) travelled to Madagascar with his partner Craig Park to celebrate completing his chemotherapy and the couple’s recent engagement

Soon after arriving for their once-in-a-lifetime trip, the 38-year-old (left) fell ill and a scan revealed that the Scot’s stage-four bowel cancer had returned

Mr McAllister (left) became stranded on remote Reunion Island (right) while on holiday to mark the end of his cancer treatment has died

In an emotional post, relatives revealed that Mr McAllister ‘slipped away peacefully’ on Reunion Island.

‘He slipped away peacefully with his rock and best pal, Craig, by his side.

‘Jon Paul fought so hard against this awful illness for nine long months and now he’s at peace.

‘He was a legend that will live on forever in our memories and in our hearts.

In an emotional post, relatives revealed that Mr McAllister (right) ‘slipped away peacefully’ on Reunion Island

Wellwishers raised £25,000 to help get Mr McAllister (right) home, but on Saturday he revealed that he was deemed too sick to fly back to Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire

‘We were so close to getting JP home. A medical repatriation service had been organised to fly him home on Saturday before his health rapidly deteriorated.

‘Unfortunately, this was a non-refundable cost. We are now doing everything we can to bring JP home for that Scottish send off he deserves.’

Mr Park had said a scan showed the treatment was shrinking the deposits left behind following surgery to remove a tumour, and the couple were advised they were fine to go on the long-awaited trip.

But shortly after arriving, the social worker’s health deteriorated rapidly and he spent two weeks in an ‘unsanitised’ medical facility in Madagascar.

Mr McAllister was then transferred on an air ambulance to improved medical facilities on nearby island Reunion 6,000 miles away from home.

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Mr Mcallister was transferred on an air ambulance to improved medical facilities on island Reunion, east of Madagascar, 6,000 miles away from home

What is bowel cancer and what are the symptoms?

Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.

Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps.

Symptoms include:

Bleeding from the bottom
Blood in stools
A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks
Unexplained weight loss
Extreme, unexplained tiredness
Abdominal pain

Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they:

Are over 50
Have a family history of the condition
Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel
Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease
Lead an unhealthy lifestyle

Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy.

More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis.

This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages.

According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.

It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute.

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