‘He told his wife that he was alright’: Kerala man dies 'suddenly' in Hamilton

Hamilton’s Kerala community is rallying to support the family of 38-year-old Libin Mathew, whose sudden death has left his wife and family in Kerala, India, “devastated and facing an unimaginable loss.”

Mathew’s family is facing a debt of about INR 35 lakh back home, according to a friend who spoke to The Indian Weekender. Funds raised by the community will be used to repatriate Mathew’s body to India for his final rites and help cover additional expenses his wife may face.

“After Libin’s passing, she [wife] does not know any passwords or anything, she always depended on Libin,” said Rojo, a friend of Mathew and his wife.

Mathew died unexpectedly on August 24 while at home on his day off.

Rojo, who had known Mathew for almost two years, said Mathew was resting in the lounge at around 3.30pm after his wife returned from work. He had been “relaxing, smiling and laughing before” his sudden death.

According to Rojo, Mathew worked casually as a supervisor at a supermarket. His wife, who also had a casual job, had returned home from work and was resting in her room because she had a headache.

“Suddenly she noticed Libin was feeling a bit dizzy. She asked him if he was alright,” Rojo describes.

“He told his wife that he was alright and went to relax on the couch,” he explained.

Rojo told The Indian Weekender that Mathew’s wife later heard a “big noise”. When she went to check on him, she saw “bubbles coming out of his mouth" and she saw him “collapsed and passed.”

According to Rojo’s account, Mathew’s wife contacted him and the neighbours, and an ambulance was called.

Emergency responders tried to revive Mathew using “CPR and D-FIB”, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

“They spent 45 minutes trying to bring him back,” Rojo recalled.
Rojo said a postmortem report is awaited.

Community support

Mathew and his wife moved to New Zealand nearly two years ago and had built close ties with the local community.

The couple had also been looking forward to Onam celebrations being held by the community in August and early September.
“Mathew could not make it to the Onam celebrations on Sunday as he had work commitments, but there was another celebration on 5 September,” Rojo explained.

Describing Mathew as a “lovely person”, “lovely husband”,” a cherished family member, and a valued friend to many,” Rojo said Mathew’s wife was on an open work visa, while Mathew was on a dependent visa.

Photo: Onam celebrations last year/Supplied

“They don’t have any kids. They planned to go back to India in December, everything was planned,” Rojo said.

Since Mathew’s sudden death, community members, neighbours and colleagues have “done their best part” to support his wife.
“We are trying to do our best and pay off her debt, that is why we are raising this fund, " Rojo described.

According to a Givealittle page set up by Hamilton Kerala Samajam, Mathew’s family wishes to bring him home to India so he can be laid to rest among his loved ones in accordance with their cultural and religious traditions.

To donate, click here.