More than £3,000 has been donated to an effort to bring home the body of a father-of-five who died in Thailand.

Kevin Rowlands, 35, had a history of mental health issues and had struggled with alcoholism.

He wandered off while staying at world-famous Gillhams Fishing Resort on Krabi with a friend and was found dead late on Monday, October 22.

Fiancée Tracy King, 38, spoke to the Messenger last week to raise awareness of mental health issues.

She said Mr Rowlands, who lived with her in Eustace Crescent, Strood, and with whom she had a seven-month-old baby son Isaac, had made several attempts to end his life in recent years and was getting help.

The mobile phone technician, who also helped raise Miss King’s daughter Eden and had four other children in Exeter, did not buy travel insurance despite being urged to.

It has left his family struggling to raise several thousand pounds needed to fly him home and bury him.

A GoFundMe page was set up by his niece and in a week £3,200 has been donated. They hope to raise another £2,000 to £3,000.

To help click here.

A report of Mr Rowlands’ death has not yet reached the coroner’s service, meaning an inquest cannot be opened.