A holidaymaker has vowed never to travel without insurance again after a costly oversight left her facing a £5,500 bill following a serious medical emergency. Jessica Walker and her partner Daniel Atkins had flown out to the popular Greek island of Mykonos, hoping to enjoy a blissful five-day getaway.
The 28-year-old initially believed she was experiencing her period during the trip last month. However, she grew concerned when the bleeding turned to clots and she began projectile vomiting on the second day of their holiday.
A doctor visited the couple the following morning and advised them to attend the local medical centre. Jessica took a pregnancy test and was left stunned to learn she was pregnant and suffering from an ectopic pregnancy. According to the NHS, an ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants and grows outside the main cavity of the uterus, normally in a fallopian tube.
Jessica was subsequently rushed to Elena Venizelou Maternity Hospital in Athens, as the condition carries life-threatening risks for the mother. The couple had originally spent £1,400 on their holiday, but were forced to fork out a further £5,500 in medical expenses and flights due to Jessica travelling without insurance.
Jessica was discharged from hospital after three days and made it back home on June 4. The mum-of-two, from Abercynon, Wales, said: I was on my period and it was like a normal period. I said to my partner that I'm so bloated, I looked about six months pregnant. I knew something wasn't right. On Thursday I was a bit off. On the next day I was keeled over, projectile vomiting everywhere.
The sweat was dripping off me and I thought I was having a reaction to something. I was having big blood clots coming out so I knew something wasn't right. Jessica explained that as the pair have a seven-month-old baby they had no intentions of falling pregnant in 2026.
She confessed she feared for her life after regaining consciousness from the procedure and felt as though she had been hit by a bus. She likened the discomfort to like having a period but 10 times worse. Jessica added: I was screaming for ages because I was in so much pain. There was the language barrier, no one knew why I was crying. All I remember is going to sleep and being in agony when I woke up. They stopped the pregnancy and removed the fallopian tube on my right side.
When I woke up, I had a bag attached to me to get rid of all the fluids. I can't even remember a lot. They couldn't tell me how far gone I was because they couldn't find the sac. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Jessica pledged she will never again embark on a trip without insurance, maintaining she will never be that stupid again. Her substantial medical bill, consisting of the clinic charges, the hospital expenses, the flights to Athens and from Athens to London, totalled a staggering £5,500. Jessica, who is currently taking blood thinners and antibiotics while recovering from the life-saving operation, believed she was covered by travel insurance through her bank, only to discover this was not the case.
She went on to say: I go away quite often and it wouldn't get into my mind something like that would happen to me in a million years. I burst into tears, when you're in a foreign country you panic when you're not around your family. I had to go to my doctors and they just checked me over and took my blood. I'm on antibiotics and blood thinners. We were looking forward to having some time together. We won't be going away for a while.
