The family of June Redman, a 75-year-old grandmother from Middlesbrough, are urgently seeking financial help to bring her home from Turkey, where she is critically ill in hospital. They face costs of approximately £30,000 for an air ambulance, with their travel insurance covering only 21.28% of the expenses, leaving an outstanding balance of £31,500.
June was on a family holiday in Marmaris, Turkey, when she suffered a fall at the hotel on the first day. She was later rushed to hospital with dangerously low blood pressure, and while being treated, she developed sepsis and pneumonia. She was placed in an induced coma, and medical staff warned her daughter, Lisa Appleyard, to prepare for the worst.
June's Condition and the Family's Plight
Thankfully, June is now conscious and showing signs of recovery, but she remains in intensive care at the Ahu Hospital in Marmaris. Her daughter Lisa, 56, described the ordeal as "an absolute living nightmare." She said: "We desperately need help. It's horrendous. We are in no position whatsoever to cover the rest of these costs. We need to warn people, don't ever get yourself in this position - I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
The family travelled to Turkey last month, including Lisa's partner Stephen, granddaughter Claire, 39, and great-grandchildren Lucia, 14, Zeki, 11, and Gabriel, six. June stumbled on a step leading from the veranda into their hotel room, striking her head and sustaining two cuts to her arm. The hotel doctor and nurse treated her and said hospital treatment was unnecessary. However, on the day they were due to fly home, June became seriously unwell, and an ambulance was called after her blood pressure dropped dangerously low.
Medical Complications and Insurance Dispute
At the hospital, doctors discovered June's kidneys were functioning at just 8% and she had developed sepsis. A week later, she contracted pneumonia and underwent a tracheotomy to help her breathe. Lisa said: "They've reduced her oxygen, she's getting there very slowly. She is not well enough to come out of intensive care but she's fit to come home in an air ambulance. She's getting well-looked after but I just need her home in our hospital."
The insurance firm, Goodtogo Travel Insurance (part of Ancile Insurance Group), is refusing to cover the full amount, alleging June failed to declare certain aspects of her medical history. These include a COPD diagnosis, which Lisa claims the family was unaware of. Lisa said: "I didn't know she had COPD - all I knew was every year she used to suffer with bronchitis and she was given this pink inhaler which she used and hasn't had bronchitis since. I don't believe she knew either. My mum is a stickler, she always says you must have insurance if you're going away. Her policy cost her I think £72 and they said for the stuff she missed off the doctor's record, it would have made her policy £200. She would have paid that. But some of the stuff is ridiculous."
Appeal for Donations and Insurance Response
The family has raised £7,000 so far through a fundraiser launched by Claire. Lisa added: "Everybody knows my mum is the most genuine, kindest, loveliest person and it's so unfair that it's happened to her. She hadn't been away for a few years and she loves going abroad. I thought she would have said Turkey is too far. But she said, 'count me in'."
A spokesperson for Ancile Insurance Group said: "Due to the complexity and ongoing nature of Mrs Redman's case, we cannot comment on the details of the claim. We are working with Mrs Redman's family to ensure the claim is resolved, and will continue to offer them support and assistance."
The family continues to seek donations to cover the remaining costs and bring June home to the UK.
