Eden Prairie man dies abroad after coma

An Eden Prairie man, Jeffrey Anderson, 49, died in a Jamaican hospital on Feb. 9 after falling into a diabetic coma while vacationing on the island late last year.

Anderson’s death highlights the complex challenges families can face when dealing with medical emergencies abroad, according to his younger brother, Kirk.

From navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems to the arduous task of arranging the return of a loved one, these situations serve as a sobering reminder for international travelers.

“Be very careful traveling alone, especially if you have preexisting health issues,” Kirk advised.

Jeffrey, who battled diabetes and other health issues, ventured to Jamaica last November by himself.

“We did not want him to travel alone, but we could not stop him either,” Kirk recounted in an email. “No one heard from him for several days, and he was not answering his cell or responding to texts, so we got worried. I called the resort he was staying at to see if they could connect me to his room.”

Kirk was told that Jeffrey was found unresponsive on a beach and taken to a hospital in Falmouth, Jamaica. “The hospital told me (Jeffrey) was in a diabetic coma and was being treated,” he added.

Several days later, Kirk said his brother’s condition worsened, and he “flatlined.” He was revived, taken to an intensive care unit, and placed on a ventilator, where he remained for several months, receiving treatment for multiple issues.

About a month ago, Kirk said the family learned Jeffrey had been taken off the ventilator and was transferred to a normal medical unit. 

“I was even able to speak with him once,” Kirk said.  “It was beginning to look like he may be able to get well enough to fly home on a commercial flight at some point.

However, earlier this month, Jeffrey’s condition deteriorated as his breathing became labored and his blood pressure dropped, according to what a doctor informed Kirk.

“They wanted to get him back to an ICU, but they were not able to do so,” Kirk said. “The doctor said they would keep monitoring him over the weekend and keep me updated. A few hours later, a nurse called to inform me that he passed away.”

Jeffrey died just two months shy of his 50th birthday.

The struggle to bring Jeffrey home

After learning of Jeffrey’s critical condition last November, Kirk contacted the U.S. Embassy in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

“They were very responsive and kind, but there was not much they could do,” Kirk said. “They gave me information about companies that would do a medical transport to get him back to the U.S.”

But, he noted that Jeffrey’s insurance did not cover the costs, requiring the family to pay out of pocket approximately $30,000 for a flight to Miami or $60,000 to Minnesota.

“We also would have had to pay a deposit to the hospitals in case his insurance would not cover his care,” Kirk said. “We tried to get him accepted to several hospitals in (Florida), but they would not accept him because of his insurance coverage. In the end, it was just too much money, so we were left to hope that he would eventually get healthy enough to fly back on a commercial flight.”

In November 2023, his aunt Gayle Thomas created a GoFundMe page to help bring Jeffrey back from Jamaica.

The funds will now cover the cost of his cremation and the transportation of his ashes back to Minnesota. Kirk mentioned that any remaining funds would be used to contribute to a memorial service in honor of his brother.

“The good news is it sounds like he will finally be home for his celebration of life in March,” Kirk said.

His brother remembers Jeffrey as someone with a passion for life, including his early years as a Golden Gloves boxer and his love for music, cooking, and travel.

Kirk recalls moving to Eden Prairie in 1984 when Jeffrey was about 10 years old, where their family has remained ever since. Jeffrey had lived in St. Louis Park but returned to live at his mother’s house in Eden Prairie in 2022.

“He had a great sense of humor, loved spending time with his friends and family and was always up for experiencing new things,” Kirk said.

Advice for travelers

In the aftermath of his brother’s death, Kirk recommends that solo travelers, particularly those with health issues, obtain travel insurance, share their location with contacts, and verify their cell phone coverage at their destination.

“For anyone in general, we’d recommend having medical directives, living wills, etc., lined up,” he said.