Pitsea funeral date set for Tyler Kerry after Turkey death

Pitsea: Tyler, a 20-year-old office furnishings fitter, was found in a lift shaft at the Trendy Lara Hotel in Antalya, Turkey, on November 29. His family has been on a tough journey, seeking answers about his sudden death.

After six long weeks, they’ve set a date for his funeral. It’s happening on January 25, and they’re planning a special procession with a horse-drawn carriage. Tyler’s grandma, Collette, shared that it’s a bit pricier to hold the funeral on a Saturday, but they want to make sure everyone can attend.

Collette said, “Tyler wouldn’t have wanted anyone to miss work.” The procession will start from their home in Wickford Mews at 12:15 PM, and they’re excited to make a bit of a scene on the way to the crematorium.

After the service at 1 PM, they’ll have a wake at the Gun Pub nearby. Collette has opened the invitation to anyone who knew Tyler, wanting to give him the best send-off possible.

She expressed, “I want him to have the best day, and that it will be a chance for us to properly grieve.” The family had been on a rare holiday in Turkey when tragedy struck, and since returning to the UK, they’ve been pushing for an investigation into what happened.

They believe Tyler was murdered and have teamed up with Justice Abroad for support, along with a private post-mortem. Collette is grateful for the community’s help, saying, “I would like to fully thank everyone who has supported me through this journey in fighting for justice for Tyler.”

They’ve been fundraising to cover investigation costs and the funeral, which has been a heavy burden. “As a family, we’re doing as good as we can and taking every day as it comes. We’ve lost a lovely young man and are absolutely devastated,” she added.

If you’d like to help, donations can be made to their GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/f/tyler-kerry.