The family of a west Belfast man who died suddenly in the US - 17 months after his brother was killed in a road traffic collision - have spoken of their "total devastation".
Gerard McMahon, who was born in the Turf Lodge area, died on October 22 in the University of California, San Francisco Medical Centre.
The 51-year-old, who had suffered a heart attack in his thirties, had gone into hospital to have a heart valve replaced at the end of September.
However, during the operation, doctors operating on the electrical engineer found he had sepsis, which later spread.
After 26 days in hospital, the father-of-one, who lived in Antioch, a suburb of San Francisco, passed away.
In keeping with his wishes, Mr McMahon's remains were this week flown home to Northern Ireland for a funeral and burial.
His journey home came 17 months after his brother, Tony's remains followed the same path.
The 47-year-old, who lived in San Carlos and worked as a paver, died on May 20 last year, following a crash on Highway 101 in San Francisco.
The father-of-four suffered severe head injuries when his motorcycle was involved in a collision.
Following his death, Gerard McMahon organised for his brother, Tony's remains to be flown home.
After travelling to Belfast with the rest of the family for his funeral and before returning to the US, Gerard organised for a head stone to be erected on his sibling's grave at Crumlin Cemetery.
While Tony McMahon had been born in the US, Gerard McMahon was aged around four when his family emigrated.
Their mother, who's maiden name was Theresa Hennessey, is originally from Conway Street in west Belfast, while his father, Joseph McMahon was originally from the Westrock area, also in the west of the city.
The couple emigrated to the US in 1969, when Theresa was pregnant with Tony, in search of a better life.
When Joseph McMahon died in 1988, his remains were returned to Belfast and laid to rest in Milltown Cemetery.
Speaking to the Irish News yesterday, Michael McMahon said his nephew, Gerard had been very proud of his Irish roots and had regularly returned home to see family.
He said it was his wishes that his remains be returned to Ireland.
The west Belfast man described his nephew as generous, revealing he had adopted a four-year-old child when the young boy's father had died. He is survived by his adopted son, who is now aged 32.
"We are all devastated," said Mr McMahon.
"The families all came over from America. It's total devastation. He was 51 and I'm 64 and we all grew up like brothers".
Mr McMahon said his nephew was "very, very giving".
"Gerard loved children and loved all his nieces and nephews," he said.
"He brought Tony home. He flew Tony here, paid for everything. He put a headstone before he left. I have to do the same for Gerard.
"It's total devastation".
