A father-of-four is stranded in a £600-per-night hospital in Benidorm after suffering a head injury, prompting his family to launch a crowdfunding appeal to bring him home.
Andrew Smith, a Blues fan from Shirley, required immediate medical attention after falling on the street and experiencing a brain haemorrhage just hours after arriving at the Spanish beach resort on Sunday, 28 September.
Doctors suspect that the 64-year-old, who is now awake from an induced coma and in the ICU, had a stroke.
The grandfather-of-12 had travelled from Birmingham Airport to Alicante for a relative’s 40th birthday celebration in Benidorm.
However, as he did not have travel insurance, his family have initiated a crowdfunding campaign to help pay his medical bills and bring him back to the UK, reports Birmingham Live.
His loved ones aim to raise up to £40,000 through a GoFundMe page, as he may need to stay around 30 days in a private Spanish hospital before he can return home.
The basic daily charge at Hospital IMED Levante is a staggering €590 (£523). However, this does not cover additional costs such as MRI scans, syringes, alcohol wipes and paracetamol, pushing the cost closer to £600 per night.
The bill has already exceeded £5,000.
The GoFundMe page has already raised more than £2,000 since it was launched on Wednesday, 1 October.
“Dad blacked out and bumped his head and cut it in the street near his hotel,” his daughter Becky Wilson told BirminghamLive.
“A passer-by phoned for an ambulance and took him to hospital. He’s had a massive stroke. They put him in an induced coma to rest his brain.
“They’ve woken him up now, but he has no speech and doesn’t know who anyone is. He’s very emotional.”
She added: “It’s been horrendous. We have been in shock. None of us have eaten for three days.
“We haven’t slept. It’s just around the clock constantly on our phones trying to share the appeal.
“We need to raise funds for his medical bills as none of us have that amount – that’s why I’ve done the GoFundMe.”
Becky is updating her passport and jetting out on Saturday to remain at her father’s hospital bedside.
To contribute to the fundraiser, please click here.
In the crowdfunding appeal, she explains: “Help Us Bring Dad Home. Our dad has suffered a bleed on the brain and is in an induced coma, after a serious fall while on holiday in Benidorm.
“He is currently receiving urgent medical care, but sadly, he doesn’t have insurance.
“We are desperately trying to raise the funds to cover his medical bills and arrange safe transport to get him home where he can be surrounded by his family and receive the care he needs.
“Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world to us and help bring Dad back safely.
“If you’re unable to donate, we would be so grateful if you could share this page to help us reach more people.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, support, and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.”
