A family of Brits have been left stranded in Turkey after their 11-year-old son was denied boarding on their easyJet flight home.
The Kilburn family were only a few days into their week-long trip to Antalya when son Vinnie fell by the hotel pool and broke his leg.
The 11-year-old was rushed to a local hospital, but his parents claim that despite buying travel insurance which they thought would cover the youngster's care, Vinnie was discharged.
READ MORE: Mum-of-four dies falling on treadmill in horror gym accident as family pays tribute
As a result, the parents were told he would need to fly back to the UK on a stretcher – but the easyJet flight was only equipped to accommodate a wheelchair.
This meant he was denied boarding and the Leicestershire family are now stranded overseas waiting for a suitable flight to bring them home.
Speaking to LeicestershireLive, dad Tom said: "As soon as Vinnie broke his leg, the holiday ended abruptly."
He claims Vinnie was left "screaming in pain" without pain relief until the family's insurance company Mayday Assistance and Holiday Extras approved the treatment.
"We were taken to the hospital by ambulance and he had an X-ray to confirm there was a fracture – but he didn't have pain relief the entire time," said Tom.
"His mum even heard him screaming on the floor above because he was in so much pain.
-
Brits will find Europe too hot for holidays within five years — and visit Canada instead
"Being a parent, seeing your child go that kind of pain is the worst thing to go through," she added. "The hospital refused to give him pain relief until our insurance approved it."
Once back at the hotel, Tom says Vinnie could barely move because the wheelchair given to them apparently wasn't suitable and the room wasn't “easily accessible”.
"[The hotel] were very helpful and we moved rooms," he added. "But at that point, we just wanted to go home and made arrangements with our insurers to fly back to the UK."
Tom and his wife, Julie, both 47, were told that their son would need to go to another hospital and get his cast reduced to allow him to have easier access to a flight home.
-
Model gobsmacked by astronomical tax bill on earnings from selling saucy pics
However, when doctors checked Vinnie's leg, they told him he needed surgery immediately to correct his tibia, putting in metal splints and screws to support his broken bones.
"We feel like things could have and should have been handled a lot better," said Tom. "You take out travel insurance to ensure that if the worst happens you're covered and can depend on receiving the treatment and support you need. But we just feel failed by them.
"We've been left in limbo."
A spokesperson from Holiday Extras said: “Holiday Extras takes all claims of this nature extremely seriously and has been working with the underwriters of the family’s policy and their medical assistance provider, Mayday Assistance, to find the appropriate solution for this complex case as quickly as possible.”
Keep up to date with all the latest news stories. By signing up for one of Daily Star's free newsletters here.
-
Woman plunges 100ft to her death after a boozy clifftop engagement celebration
Mayday Assistance's underwriters spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Mayday Assistance is in direct communication with the family and is assessing all options for them to return home safely as soon as possible.”
An easyJet spokesperson added: “We are sorry that Vincent and his family were unable to travel on flight EZY2142 from Antalya to Manchester as we are unable to accept stretchers on board as stated in our medical policy and as was explained to the family’s travel agent. The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority and we always do everything we can to support passengers who may additional assistance when travelling.
"We made arrangements for Vincent to have special assistance throughout the airport and during boarding as we were advised by the family’s travel agent that he was able to travel in a wheelchair, however as he would only travel in a stretcher, they were unfortunately unable to travel."
Source: Read Full Article