THE FAMILY of a Saundersfoot man described as a ‘kind and remarkable soul’ have paid tribute after he sadly passed away this week following an accident last week in Bali.

James Criddle sustained serious injuries last Friday, July 15, following a bike accident on the island where he lived.

He underwent an intensive seven-hour operation relieve the pressure on his brain and remained in an induced coma while the hospital’s medical team monitored and drained his bleed.

It was hoped that once his condition stabilised, he would have further surgery to replace the bone that was initially removed from his skull in order to relieve the pressure from his brain.

However, his family announced yesterday that James had not survived his injuries and died on July 21.

The family released a statement, saying: “It is with deepest sadness and regret that we share the news that James Matthew Criddle passed from this world in the early hours of July 21.

“It transpired that along with the injuries previously detailed, he had also sustained 25 fractures to his skull. Whilst his mum and dad were en route to be by his side, they were informed that his kidneys had started to fail caused by an infection and needed an urgent operation.

“He was taken down to surgery, but whilst they were working on him, he suffered a cardiac arrest and despite the efforts of the medical team to keep him alive, they were not able to do so.

“Whilst we understand that it may be distressing to hear the details of James last moments, it is important to not only his family, but to his memory to share the true details of what happened and to avoid rumours and hearsay circulating.

“As a family we do not believe in sympathy cards or lamenting. James was a funny, generous, kind and most of all remarkable soul who had an astonishing love of life and lived it to the full,” they continued.

“We respectfully ask that his life should be celebrated with stories shared of the times you spent with him and helping to add to his legacy of experience and ‘paying it forward’.

“In the same vein, we have made the decision not to have a traditional ‘funeral’ – nothing about James was traditional or ordinary and we would like to honour his life in a manner that benefits his zest for life and his Insatiable appetite for love.

“We will shortly be organising and sharing details of a celebration of his life that all those that knew and loved him can attend. James’ body which is the vessel that carried his beautiful soul will physically stay in Bali, where he had some of his happiest times in the last couple of years and will be honoured by his friends there also.

“The ‘GoFundMe’ page that has received such an outpouring of love, will now in part be used to fund the celebration of his life but will also shift into a way to ensure that James’ legacy lives on – by helping those most vulnerable in society, especially the homeless and underprivileged and those who suffer from mental health difficulties that aspired from living on the streets.

“The people of Pembrokeshire donated goods to help this cause where money was raised to form a soup kitchen where the homeless could have a hearty soup raised form the donations. we want James to always be remembered for the beautiful giving and loving heart he had.

“After great thought we would through the GoFundMe page form ‘The James Criddle Foundation’. We would encourage you to honour his memory in this way by continuing to contribute.

“Although James is no longer of this world, his extraordinary spirit will live on in every act of kindness that we perpetuate and happy memory we share,” added The Criddles.

The GoFundMe page which has already raised over £11,000, can be found here: https://gofund.me/e1d02b96