Durban - The post-mortem results of Hibiscus Coast Municipality law enforcement officer, Devlyn Abbott, who died while on holiday in Thailand, has revealed he died of inflammation of the brain.
Post mortem results sent to Abbot’s family this week said the 41-year-old died as a result of “cerebral edema and bleeding under meninges” - inflammation to the brain caused by meningitis.
Staff at a Phuket hotel where he had been staying found his body in his hotel room on May 5.
He had checked in on April 28 and was due to check out on May 6.
On the day he was found he sent a message to his family via, Whatsapp, saying he had “piercing headaches”.
A police report sent to his family said he had fallen and hit his head in his hotel room.
On Thursday, a close friend of Abbott, Shona Aylward, said his death was a huge loss to the South Coast.
“He was a well known figure in the community and played a part in so many successful arrests. He loved to keep fit and would often be on the road running as early as 4am. Everyone from taxi drivers to ordinary motorists would wave. People knew that when he was around, they were safe,” she said.
Aylward said that people would miss Abbott’s friendly face and his passion for life.
“He mostly worked on the northern side of the South Coast between Port Shepstone and Hibberdene which he called his ‘office’. He took pride in protecting that area. He loved his job. He was so committed to his work that he was even known to go to church in his uniform,” she said.
Aylward said because Abbott was a fitness enthusiast and health conscious, his sudden death had come as a shock.
Hundreds of people, including law enforcement officers, municipal officials and police members gathered at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre last Wednesday for a memorial service for Abbott that was held by the Hibiscus Coast Municipality.
At the weekend, a church service was held for him by his family, friends and colleagues.
His body is yet to be repatriated but is expected to arrive within two weeks.
His family plans to scatter his ashes in Richards Bay where he grew up.
Daily News