Bradley Belhomme, a 20-year-old from Salford, is fighting for his life in a Greek hospital after suffering catastrophic head injuries in a quad bike crash on the island of Zante. The incident occurred on Friday, July 3, when the quad bike he was riding collided with a coach. He is now in intensive care in a coma at a hospital in Attica, Athens, after being transferred from Zante.
Holiday Turned Tragedy
Bradley had flown to the popular party destination with a group of friends on Thursday, July 2. The group rented quad bikes to explore the island, but disaster struck while Bradley was riding with another friend, who was also hospitalized. His mother, Leanne Rabbetts, described the harrowing experience of receiving the news. "I spoke to him when he arrived, but then on the Friday afternoon I got the call saying there had been a crash," she said. "I was thinking 'what the hell happened?' I had to ring the hospital in Zante, but they couldn't give me much information."
Bradley was initially treated in Zante but was moved to Athens due to the severity of his head trauma. Leanne flew out on Sunday and has been by his side, though visits are limited to 30 minutes per day. "The doctors tried to bring him out of a coma yesterday but he wasn't responding. Then they tried again today and he had two fits," she said. "They don't know if it's a bleed on the brain, so he has to have an MRI scan to see the damage, but he isn't responding at all."
Family's Struggle and Community Support
Bradley's family believes he had travel insurance, but they cannot confirm details as they lack access to his phone. They have contacted the British Embassy for support. His uncle, Adam, highlighted the financial strain: "Because of the head trauma, we don't even know when he will be able to come home. We are just waiting for the scan and trying to make sure everything is covered, because if the insurance is invalid it's a big bill."
Friends and the local community have rallied, organizing fundraising events and walks to help cover medical expenses. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the family. Adam added, "Bradley is a loveable lad who has gone away to have a lads' holiday. He's hardworking and, unfortunately, being young, you often make the wrong choices. It's all questions and no answers at the moment."
Ongoing Medical Care
Bradley remains in intensive care, and his family is awaiting MRI results to determine the extent of brain damage. The language barrier has added to their difficulties. "We are like a fish out of water," Adam said. The family continues to hope for Bradley's recovery, while the community's support has been a bright spot in a dark time.
