A couple say they are unable to leave Turkey until they cough up £15k for an intensive care medical bill. Saul Daly was rushed to hospital while holidaying with his partner Kathleen McLean in the Turkish resort of Side.
Medics discovered he had a bleed in his lungs and he underwent emergency treatment. On his return to Ireland, Saul will need further care but the couple say they cannot fly back until the full cost of his treatment is met.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Kathleen explained they took out insurance prior to going on holiday. But she said the insurance company is refusing to pay all of the bill, meaning they need to raise £15,000.
Kathleen said: "We came out here on May 13 for a two week holiday which was supposed to be a nice relaxing getaway. However after a few days on May 16, Saul started to complain about having a pain in his back, which we felt must have been down to the hotel bed.
"Over the next couple of days this pain only got worse and we asked the hotel manager to organise an appointment with the doctor. But after describing his symptoms an ambulance arrived to take him away for tests.
"At the medical centre Saul had scans and tests done which revealed that he had blood in his lungs and was very sick and was then transferred 85 miles away to Yasam Hospital in Antayla and was blue-lighted the whole way there."
Kathleen said the treatment was "fantastic" and a few days ago, Saul was given the all-clear to return home to Belfast to receive further hospital treatment. "Our problems arose though when we were trying to get our medical bills paid by the insurance company who have been less than helpful with everything," she said.
"They have said they will only pay less than half of the bill and even told me they would refuse help altogether if we didn't stop trying to contact them. All while this has been going on, the medical bill has been getting larger and larger as Saul cannot leave the hospital until it has been paid."
Saul is originally from Liverpool and Kathleen from Glasgow, but they have lived in the Whiterock Road area of Belfast for a number of years. Kathleen said that all the couple want to do is return home but they fear they could be stuck in the country for months.
"I have a son at home who I was meant to see two weeks ago and I don't know when I will get to see him next," she said. "We have been here for four weeks and unless we are able to raise the money to pay for this bill I don't know what we are going to do."
Kathleen's friend Jody Mccrae has set up a GoFundme page in order to help the couple raise the £15,000 they need so they can finally return home to Belfast.
