A British tourist who was left on a ventilator in Greece after a holiday insurance mistake has died, leaving his family facing a substantial bill. Alan Kirby, 67, a car valeter from Marston Magna, Somerset, suffered septic shock and passed away on Monday in Athens, his family confirmed.
Mr Kirby initially thought the pain in his side during a family dinner in Zante was from playing with his step-grandchildren in the sea. However, when he woke up breathless, he sought medical advice. Doctors discovered a mass in his lung and advised a biopsy in the UK, fearing cancer. But his condition deteriorated, and he was placed on a ventilator, preventing a commercial flight home. He was airlifted to a private hospital in Athens.
The family had been raising funds for an air ambulance flight home, but Mr Kirby died before reaching the £45,000 target. His stepdaughter Liza Whitemore, 40, confirmed his death on a GoFundMe page, stating: 'It comes with great sadness that Alan gained his wings in the night in Athens.' The money raised will now go towards his cremation in Athens.
The insurance issue arose because Mr Kirby had a pre-existing lung mass, which British doctors had previously deemed benign and told him not to worry about. However, this was not declared to insurers, invalidating his cover. The family faced a £14,000 hospital bill and a £45,000 medical flight, totalling £59,000. After his death, the insurance agreed to cover the hospital bill.
Ms Whitemore said: 'We know we've made the mistake [with the insurance] – that's the problem. My mum had gone into the bank that she had insurance with and they said, just go on holiday, you don't have to do anything. They didn't know about the mass.'
