A 27-year-old British man's family holiday on the Greek island of Zante turned into a nightmare when he suffered serious injuries in a quad bike crash less than 24 hours after arriving. Lewis Quinn, from Fenham, Newcastle, was riding with his father John and family friend Shaun Clark on June 6 when the accident occurred.
Details of the Accident
The trio had hired quad bikes to explore the island. The following morning, the rental operator notified them of the crash. John Quinn told ChronicleLive: "The police officer who dealt with it said that Lewis was in a serious condition." Lewis sustained a fractured arm and a jaw broken in two places. He was rushed to hospital and placed on a ventilator.
Complications and Recovery
His condition worsened due to internal bleeding in his lungs, which triggered an infection that developed into pneumonia. Lewis spent nearly two weeks in hospital but is now awake and recovering. However, doctors have not yet determined when he will be fit to leave and return to the UK.
John Quinn, a tattoo artist, described the ordeal as "very, very difficult." He said: "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 Strain and Fundraiser
Lewis, who lives with his partner in Bedford, did not arrange travel insurance before the holiday. Shaun Clark launched a GoFundMe appeal to support his treatment, which has raised nearly £7,000. John explained: "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 Challenges
The 60-year-old father is desperate to fly home with his son but cannot predict when that will happen. He is staying near the hospital despite difficulties. He added: "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."
