‘I’m devastated’: Heartbreak as Leitrim man, 35, dies suddenly on honeymoon in Croatia

Tributes have been paid to a Leitrim man who passed away while on his honeymoon in Croatia.

Tommy 'Spike' McCormack collapsed while out walking in Split with wife Karen Guthrie on Saturday morning. Two nearby police officers rushed to his aid and administered CPR but were unable to save him. It is suspected that he died of a heart attack, reports the Irish Sun. Powerlifting champion Tommy, who was 35, hailed from Ballinamore in Leitrim. He and Karen had jetted off to the Dalmatian coast for the holiday of a lifetime a year after tying the knot. They got married in May 2018 but waited until this summer to take their honeymoon. In a post on Facebook, Karen said that she was in utter shock.

"He was my soul mate. My best friend. My husband," she wrote. "Words cannot express how much love I have for him and I know he had for me too. "I'm devastated. I may be alone on an island in the middle of Croatia but let me tell you I can feel all the love from each and every person who loved him."

Tommy's family's next priority is to get his body home to Ireland with the help of the public. So far, over €60,000 has been raised to help with his repatriation. "The funds raised will go towards facilitating the most comfortable final journey for our beloved Spike," Karen's sister Michelle wrote on a GoFundMe page for the cause. They are also hoping to make a donation to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which supports families who lose a loved one abroad.

"Without the trust we would truely be lost," Michelle continued. "Their ability to promptly respond in our time of need has been invaluable. We would like to pay it forward by collecting funds for families when they experience tragedies like this."

You can donate to the fundraiser here.