A family holiday in Turkey turned into a "living nightmare" after their great-grandmother became seriously ill following a fall. June Redman, 75, from Middlesbrough, was rushed to hospital with dangerously low blood pressure and placed in an induced coma. She later developed sepsis and pneumonia, and her family was told to prepare for the worst.
Fall on first day of holiday
Her daughter, Lisa Appleyard, said the ordeal began when June tripped on a step from the veranda into their hotel room on the first day of the trip. She banged her head and suffered two cuts to her arm. The hotel doctor and nurse treated her and said she did not need hospital care. The family enjoyed the next few days, but on the day they were due to return home, June became very unwell.
They took her to the nurse, who called an ambulance as June's blood pressure was extremely low. At the hospital, doctors found her kidneys were working at just 8% and she had contracted sepsis. A week later, she developed pneumonia and was critically ill. She underwent a tracheotomy and is now showing signs of improvement, but remains in intensive care at the Ahu Hospital in Marmaris.
Insurance dispute leaves family short
Lisa said the travel insurance will only contribute 21.28% of the costs, leaving the family to find £31,500 for an air ambulance to bring June home to Middlesbrough. The insurer, Goodtogo Travel Insurance, reportedly declined to cover the full amount because some aspects of June's medical record were not declared, including a COPD diagnosis that Lisa says they were unaware of. Lisa also mentioned that June had attended A&E for a shoulder injury but was not admitted overnight.
"I didn't know she had COPD - all I knew was every year she used to suffer with bronchitis and she was given this pink inhaler which she used and hasn't had bronchitis since," said Lisa. "I don't believe she knew either. My mum is a stickler, she always says you must have insurance if you're going away. Her policy cost her I think £72 and they said for the stuff she missed off the doctor's record, it would have made her policy £200. She would have paid that. But some of the stuff is ridiculous."
A spokesperson for Ancile Insurance Group, parent company of Goodtogo Travel Insurance, said: "Due to the complexity and ongoing nature of Mrs Redman’s case, we cannot comment on the details of the claim. We are working with Mrs Redman’s family to ensure the claim is resolved, and will continue to offer them support and assistance."
Family's plea for help
The family has raised £7,000 so far, including just over £2,000 through a fundraising page set up by June's granddaughter Claire. They are sharing their story to warn others about potential travel insurance cover issues and to ask for donations.
"We desperately need help," said Lisa, 56. "It's horrendous. An absolute living nightmare. We are in no position whatsoever to cover the rest of these costs. We need to warn people, don't ever get yourself in this position - I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
June, who is divorced and lives in Park End, worked for many years at Boots and a dry cleaners before retirement. She travelled to Turkey in mid-July with Lisa, her partner Stephen, granddaughter Claire, 39, and great-grandchildren Lucia, 14, Zeki, 11, and Gabriel, six. Claire said: "What was meant to be a family holiday has turned into an incredibly frightening and uncertain situation for our family. If you know June, you will know how much she means to our family. She is our Noonie, and we just want to give her the best possible chance of coming home."
