05 February 2025 , 18:15
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Family members of the young woman, named Ebony, have said she died on February 1 "within a few hours of arriving at the hospital" after her hostel in Sri Lanka was fumigated
A Brit on her "dream holiday" to Sri Lanka has died in hospital after her hostel was fumigated for bed bugs.
Travel influencer Ebony had set off from Heathrow Airport to Sri Lanka on January 28, 2025, travelling thousands of miles to the south Asian country for a dream trip. But her stay at the Miracle Colombo City hostel was "cruelly cut short" just two days later after reports suggested the bedroom next to hers in the building was fumigated for bed bugs.
Ebony’s distressed family members have said they are in the midst of a "nightmare" as they fundraise to have their "beautiful baby girl" returned to the UK. They claimed the 24-year-old was one of several people sent to hospital last week, with others left vomiting and struggling to breathe.
Ebony was staying at the Miracle Colombo City hostel
Taking to GoFundMe, organiser India McIntosh, Ebony’s younger sister, said she "took very ill" in the hostel, which has since been closed, alongside several others, who were treated in hospital for "vomiting" and "nausea". Ebony, they wrote, suffered difficulty breathing, and passed away less than a week after she arrived in Sri Lanka on February 1.
India wrote: "We cannot even begin to imagine how scared she must have felt at the time and it hurts us so badly to think of the pain she was in." The organiser added that Ebony passed away "with someone from the hostel beside her" who stayed with her "during her last moments".
She added the family is "endlessly grateful" to the man, and now hope to bring Ebony "home where she belongs". Local reports have suggested that a German couple also fell ill following the alleged fumigation of the room, which was sealed for 72 hours following the treatment for bed bugs.
Authorities are yet to confirm whether the fumigation played a role in her death, however, with an exact cause not yet given. Her body won’t be released until Sri Lankan authorities complete a post-mortem, and Ebony’s family is now fundraising to have her returned home as tributes flood social media.
India wrote: "The authorities in Sri Lanka are not allowed to release Ebony to us until a full Post Mortem has been completed. There is also an ongoing investigation because of the tragic circumstances linked to how she died. We are desperate and cannot wait any longer to see her and to bring her home.
"We are raising money for flight costs, hotel accommodation, emergency passports, vaccinations, visas and funeral services to give her the best send off that she deserves. We need to be with our beautiful Ebony as soon as possible, we hate the thought of her being alone in a foreign country. We want to be able to bring her back home safely to rest. We just need to look after our angel."