After returning home for Christmas mid-December 2009 she flew back to Kabul on Sunday 17th January 2010 to spend some time with a friend from another agency before going back to the rural community in the north west where she was based. It was later that same day that she was found dead. She was 24.
A formal inquest was finally held in Woking, Surrey on the 29th March 2011, at which it was confirmed that she had almost certainly died from carbon monoxide poisoning - probably from the bukhari heater in her bedroom. This is a type of room heater common in Afghanistan, and although some utilise diesel most burn either wood or sawdust, which was the type Fay was using.
A report of the inquest appeared in the online edition of the Daily Mail which can be accessed via the link below.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372667/Young-British-aid-worker-Afghanistan-died-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-guesthouse-room.html
A Thanksgiving Service was held in Above Bar Church in Southampton on Saturday 6th February, at which nearly 350 of her friends and family were able to give thanks to God for what He'd enabled her to achieve in her short life. Fay was buried the following week in an informal ceremony at a woodland burial site on the South Downs.
It was only her death that revealed the extent to which she was known and loved - both here in the UK and in Afghanistan - and its suddenness and unexpected nature came as a devastating shock to many people. However we believe in a Sovereign God who does "all things well", and that He has plans and purposes in both the life and death of every one of His children, never more so than when He takes someone to be with Him in glory at such a young age.
The Bible tells us that a Christian's life is something precious and worthwhile, in that it should not only bring praise to God whilst they live but can be used to bless others even after their death because their works "follow them". We believe this is true for Fay's life in the way it continues to be a challenge both to those who share her faith in God and even to those who do not.
Therefore the purpose of this blog is not simply to remember Fay's friendship or character but is more to remember her faith in God and how that shaped the person she was to become. It includes some of her experiences in Afghanistan along with news of the work that she was involved in, but above all we pray that this blog may enable many more to be similarly challenged about their life and encouraged to love and serve the God who Fay wanted to know more and more.
In the pages of this blog you will find the following, but please note that because this is a public blog in some cases the names of certain people, organisations or places have had to be omitted for security reasons.
A life lived to the full - something of her childhood experiences and what led her to be in Afghanistan, including a picture slideshow.
An Afghanistan adventure - extracts from her emails and letters, describing something of her experiences in that country.
Tea and Turnips - a copy of the blog she started in Afghanistan.
Journey's end - details of her burial (a quite surreal occasion that itself was both a witness and a challenge), and final details of how she died when these are known.
Thanksgiving Service - details of the service held in Southampton on the 6th February 2010, including audio extracts.
Testimonials - some of the many comments received since her death from Fay's friends and others who have been impacted by her life.
Their works follow them - latest details of the work in Afghanistan that Fay was involved in, and details of the fund that was established in her memory.
Contacts & links - our email, various links including Fay speaking at our home church immediately prior to her return to Afghanistan in January 2010, and a place for posting comments.
Chris spent time in Afghanistan with Fay in September 2009 and we were both able to visit in April/May 2011. We are happy to come and speak to any group who might like to hear at first hand about what life is really like there and the work Fay was involved in - ideally through showing pictures using perhaps a Powerpoint presentation or even just on a laptop. We believe that this is not just suitable as a challenge to believers but also for outreach - especially in light of Fay's unexpected death and the events that occurred at her burial.
If you think this might be of interest please feel free to contact us.
Chris and Julie Martin
