A family from Leicestershire say they have endured a 'horrific' ordeal after their 11-year-old son broke his leg while on holiday in Turkey, leaving them stranded and facing a £21,000 bill for his return.
Vinnie, from Market Bosworth, slipped by the pool at a hotel in Lara Beach on 18 July and suffered a severe leg fracture. His father Tom described being taken to a hospital where doctors said an operation was needed but could not be performed there, leading to a transfer to another facility. Tom claimed they were kept waiting for payment confirmation before any treatment was given, and his son was not offered pain relief during this time.
Medics decided against surgery, placing Vinnie's leg in a full-length cast. After returning to their hotel, the family's travel insurer instructed them to go back to hospital to have the cast reduced so Vinnie could fly home, but hospital staff said this was not possible as he required an operation. A flight was arranged for Sunday, but the family was denied boarding because the aircraft could not accommodate a stretcher.
Tom said they waited at the airport for three hours before being sent to a new hotel, where Vinnie remained on an ambulance bed for 48 hours. 'It is the most heartbreaking thing seeing a child, an active child, just left in a hotel room,' he said.
EasyJet apologised, stating that stretchers are not accepted on board as per their medical policy. The insurer, Holiday Extras, said it was working with underwriters and medical assistance provider Mayday Assistance to find a solution. Two private companies, Airlec Air Espace and Hearts First Ambulance Service, have now offered to fly the family home for free, with a flight scheduled for Friday.
