Chloe Barker, a 22-year-old from Halifax, is facing a bill of up to £10,000 to return home after suffering a broken back in a freak accident at a Prague bar. Despite having travel insurance, her policy does not cover medical repatriation.
Accident and Injuries
Chloe was accidentally knocked off a high bar stool by a stranger on her first day in the Czech capital. She fell backwards, landing on her back and sustaining a fracture in her lower spine. She has undergone one spinal surgery to insert metal screws and rods and a bone graft from her hip, and requires a second operation.
Insurance Gap
While her travel insurance covers medical expenses in Prague, it lacks provision for bringing her back to the UK. Due to the severity of her injuries, she cannot fly commercially and must choose between a costly air ambulance or a 990-mile road journey home, costing between £7,000 and £10,000.
Fundraiser Launched
Chloe's friend Sophia Andrews, 21, from Huddersfield, has started a GoFundMe campaign to cover the repatriation costs. Sophia said: "She had only been there one day, bless her. She was sat on a high bar stool and someone just walked past quickly and knocked her off it, falling backwards so she landed straight on her back and folded herself over."
Chloe is allowed only four hours of hospital visits per day, leaving her feeling isolated. She has been told she cannot sit for three months and may need around seven days before she can travel, depending on recovery. Sophia added: "It's definitely a state of shock really for her and feeling really bad for it physically and mentally I imagine is a lot for her."
Uncertain Recovery
The family remains unsure about Chloe's recovery timeline and when she can return to work. The fundraiser aims to alleviate the financial burden of her medical repatriation.
