Queensland dad dies mysteriously on Pacific Islands cruise

A heartbroken Queensland family are still searching for answers after a father-of-two died suddenly after a suspected medical episode during a daytrip to Vanuatu.

Edward Langley was on a family cruise with his family and while on a stop over in Vanuatu took an unexpected fall and died. Photo: Supplied

A Queensland man has mysteriously died while on a cruise holiday with his family.

Edward Langley and his family were exploring Vanuatu when the father-of-two experienced a medical episode and fell.

Wife Heidi Langley and their children Timmy and Marizel are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.

Mrs Langley said the family had travelled to a popular tourist spot for a swim.

“He went ahead of me, and the next moment I heard somebody say a man has slipped and fell, so I turned around to see and I recognised his legs and I immediately knew it and ran to him,” she said.

“Some people said he might’ve hit his head, all kinds of things. I saw when I looked at him he was purple so quickly, and I said someone please open his airways. He’s not getting breath.

“A nurse turned up, the fireys turned up and they started doing CPR and the nurse was there to check his pulse.”

Ms Langley said the remote location meant an ambulance took about 40 minutes to arrive. Edward was declared dead at the scene.

Ms Langley returned to her home at Landsborough, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, on Wednesday with her two children.

“I am at a loss because now suddenly a single mum with two kids and this is not how I envisioned my life to be,” Ms Langley said

Ms Langley, originally from South Africa, said her husband of 27 years was fit and healthy.

“He was very famous for doing his park runs, we are originally from South Africa. He did the Comrades Marathon. Never smoked, never drank, always ate healthy,” she said.

“So I can’t really understand that.”

Ms Langley said Edward’s body would return to Australia on Saturday.

Family friend Estie Esterhuizen said it had been a “crazy time”.

She has created a GoFund Me to help the family through this heartbreaking time.

“While on their cruise and a stopover in Vanuatu Edward unexpectedly fell … possibly from a heart attack or stroke. At this current time we still don’t know the exact cause of his death,” the GoFundMe note says.

“Our hearts goes out to Heidi, Marizel, Timmy and the rest of the family. Our deepest and most sincere condolences to each of you. We can’t even begin to understand what you are all going through now.

“There has been a few requests on how friends and family can support and help her, so this is just one way to donate and help in a way that we all know is hard and expensive.”

Originally published as Queensland dad dies mysteriously on Pacific Islands cruise