British teacher, 27, found dead in China after ‘mysterious illness’

A teacher from Wales has been found dead in his flat in China after suffering from ‘flu-like symptoms’.

Christopher Duffield was discovered in his apartment in Chongqing on Friday, September 13, after concerns were raised for his wellbeing.

The cause of his death is unknown but is not being treated as suspicious.

Christopher, who previously lived in Cardiff, had flown to the other side of the world to teach English.

The 27-year-old was admitted to hospital with a flu-like condition the week before he died and had posted a picture of himself from his hospital bed on social media with a caption saying: ‘Apparently every foreigner goes through this in their first year in China.’

It was initially thought that Christopher’s condition was improving.

His friends and family are now fundraising to bring his body back home and to hold a memorial for their much-loved son and friend.

So far they have raised more than £11,000 but the estimated costs to return Christopher’s body reach £20,000.

Friend Hilary Nisbet, 26, who met Christopher while both were studying at Cardiff University, said his death came to his friends and family as a ‘complete shock’.

She added: ‘It was an awful shock, everyone was really surprised.

‘On Facebook he had posted a picture of him in hospital and he was smiling and joking.

‘Everybody was under the impression he was doing okay and he told his family he was feeling better the day before he died. It was a really big surprise.

‘It’s been weird and people are still finding out about it on social media, but the amount of positivity about him has been overwhelming and seeing the amount of people who have come forward.

‘His family can’t grieve properly because he’s not here and his friends are doing everything possible to bring him back.’

A link to help Christopher’s family with the costs of bringing him back to the UK can be found here.