A Newcastle dad says he has "never experienced stress like this" after his son was injured in a quad bike collision on holiday. Lewis Quinn had arrived in Kalamaki on Zante on Saturday, June 6, for a week of relaxation with dad John Quinn and family friend Shaun Clark.
However, less than 24 hours after touching down, Lewis was involved in a quad bike accident and has remained in hospital since. John, who lives in Fenham, told ChronicleLive that they had rented quad bikes and intended to explore the area on them.
Details of the Accident and Injuries
John said: "The following morning, we were notified by the guy who rented us the quads that there had been an accident. The police officer who dealt with it said that Lewis was in a serious condition."
The 27-year-old suffered a fractured arm and a fractured jaw in two places in the collision. He was taken to hospital where he was placed on a ventilator. His recovery was further complicated after internal bleeding into his lungs saw him develop an infection which led to pneumonia.
Current Condition and Recovery
After almost two weeks in hospital, Lewis is now conscious and is on the mend, but it is not yet known when he will be fit enough to leave the hospital and fly back to the UK. Dad John, a tattoo artist, described the situation as "very, very difficult." He told ChronicleLive: "I've never experienced stress like this in my life. He's been under sedation and they're trying to bring him out of that to remove the tube, but he's getting agitated."
Financial Challenges and GoFundMe Campaign
Lewis, who now lives in Bedford with his partner, had not taken out travel insurance before the trip. His friend Shaun has started a GoFundMe to help raise money for his ongoing care, which has raised almost £7,000 at the time of writing. John said: "It (the GoFundMe) was originally for Lewis's repatriation, but his partner has flown out and it's also to help cover her accommodation and travel expenses. I have even considered cashing in my pension but it was going to take three weeks. This is all about his immediate care, not long term care. I just want him to be okay."
Ongoing Struggles and Hope for Return
The 60-year-old says that he wants to be able to fly home with Lewis, but he currently has no idea when that might be. For now, he is making sure that he is close to the hospital where Lewis is being treated, but that is not without its challenges. He finished: "I would like to fly home with Lewis. We're between apartments as we've not had a tenancy for more than two nights, high season is approaching and I'm worried I won't have a bed; it's all very, very stressful."
