A DAUGHTER was reunited with her father after 43 years apart - only for him to die two days later.
Mary Garcia flew 4,600 miles from Texas to Kirkcaldy, Fife, to meet the father she had not seen since 1971.
But by then Jim McKelvie, who was 66, was dying of cancer and passed away - holding hands with his long-lost daughter - within 48 hours.
Mr McKelvie, a former soldier, split up with Ms Garcia's mother when she was two-years-old and she moved to live in the US, losing contact completely for the following 43 years.
However, Jim's ex-wife, Maria, finally got back in touch with him via social media six months ago, when he was still healthy.
Last month, the devastating news came through that he was terminally ill.
After she FaceTimed with her father on an iPad - the first time the pair had "seen" each other for more than four decades - Ms Garcia dropped everything and flew to Scotland.
Mr McKelvie's granddaughter, Claire Houston, from Dunfermline, Fife, said: "She arrived just in time on October 2. It was just wonderful and Mary and I connected straight away.
"By this time my grandfather wasn't able to talk, walk, eat or drink and he opened his eyes only rarely, but he held Mary's hand and knew she was there.
"Myself, my mum and Mary were holding his hands when he passed away on the Saturday.
"I will miss him terribly but I am glad he was part of my life.
"Sometimes when you meet someone for the first time it can be a bit awkward, but it wasn't and we connected immediately. We are definitely going to keep in touch."
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