A father's getaway descended into a living nightmare when he 'lost all the blood in his body' while relaxing poolside. Peter Beetham flew out to Gran Canaria on March 13 for a week's break to mark being cancer-free following three years of gruelling chemotherapy.
The 49-year-old, who had battled pancreatic cancer, was looking forward to the £12,500 all-inclusive trip with his partner Sharleene Hickman and a close friend. However, on just the second day, the father says he was simply relaxing by the pool when he began 'spewing a litre of blood', before collapsing while making his way to the toilet.
Discharged with Sunstroke Diagnosis
The hotel summoned an ambulance which transported Peter to hospital, but he alleges medical staff discharged him claiming he was merely suffering from sunstroke. It was only when Peter began 'losing constant blood' on the toilet the following day that he resolved to return home, securing a £50 flight on March 15.
Peter headed directly to Manchester Royal Infirmary upon touching down at Manchester Airport, where he was diagnosed with internal bleeding. Medical staff reportedly discovered an ulcer that had 'exploded' in Peter's bowel, which he attributed to the surgery he underwent to remove his pancreas in August 2025.
Seven Blood Transfusions and Surgery
Peter was left terrified for his survival after being informed he could have died either on the aircraft or beside the pool. The former landscaper required seven blood transfusions and surgery, spending 18 days in hospital.
Peter, from Winsford, Cheshire, said: 'I went [on holiday] with my partner and my friend because I had just beaten cancer. I was six months clear from cancer and I thought I would go away for a week. I had surgery to have my pancreas removed, which is where the cancer was.'
'We couldn't wait to get away. I was on chemo for three years so it's been a while. I was sitting there drinking water and felt a bit sick. Then I spewed up a litre of blood from my mouth. I went to the toilet and took three steps and collapsed.'
'The hotel called an ambulance and I went to the hospital. They just looked at me like there's nothing wrong with me and said it was a heat sunstroke and gave me some hydration drink.'
'They told me to rest and I'll be alright. I went back to my hotel as normal. I woke up the next morning and went to the toilet seven times and there was constant blood coming out the back of me.'
'We thought it's not right. We flew home the next day. I went straight to Manchester Royal. They said I had internal bleeding because an ulcer exploded. Because they left a little bit of pancreas in there it caused an ulcer to grow around my bowel and it blew up.'
'I had seven blood transfusions and a small operation and now I'm on the mend. It was horrific, I'm very lucky to be alive.'
Recovery and Fear of Future Holidays
Peter is thankful to be alive following what he described as losing 'every bit of blood' in his body, though he admitted the ordeal completely ruined his holiday.
Peter said: 'I had four cameras down on me, the first three couldn't find anything and the fourth one they found the ulcer. I came home for six hours and started spewing blood again so went back to hospital.'
'We didn't feel safe there with all the blood coming out of me. I literally lost every bit of blood in my body, I was dead. I'm very lucky.'
'It ruined the holiday. As soon as I started spewing blood I went white, my lips went crystal clear, I thought I was going to die on the side of the pool.'
The father of two is now on the road to recovery, with a further iron transfusion and follow-up scans scheduled. Peter says the traumatic experience has left him too frightened to even consider booking another holiday.
Peter said: 'I have to go back to have another iron transfusion. Then I will have a scan to make sure it's healing properly.'
'I knew it wasn't a sunstroke because I had been there two days and I wasn't even out in the sun. I was drinking plenty of water so I knew it wasn't that.'
'Luckily nothing happened on the flight. I'm too scared to plan another holiday.'
