Somerset household’s journey insurance coverage warning over hospital keep

The household of a person caught in a Greek hospital with suspected lung most cancers say their combat to return him to the UK has been “emotionally destroying”, and have warned others to not repeat their errors.

Alan Kirby, from Somerset, thought he had insurance coverage cowl for a household vacation to Zante, however the coverage was declared void as a result of he didn’t inform his insurers a few pre-existing lung situation.

Mr Kirby, who will not be on medicine and felt effectively when he left, has been recognized with pneumonia and suspected lung most cancers, and is receiving care in Athens.

His step-daughter Liza Whitemore mentioned the household are attempting to boost £30,000 to pay non-public hospital charges and to fund an air ambulance switch house.

Mr Kirby’s associate Helen Whitemore mentioned they “just want him home” and he’s “getting a little bit depressed”.

Liza Whitemore mentioned: “He’s not come out of bed for a month, not walked. He is just waiting and hoping he can come home.”

She mentioned Mr Kirby, of Marston Magna close to Yeovil, knew he had a benign tumour in his chest but it surely was not declared to Allianz Insurance, and he didn’t get a fit-to-fly certificates as insurers really useful.

Allianz mentioned it “acted in good faith” and denied the household’s declare because of the pre-existing situation.

Ms Whitemore mentioned her stepfather fell sick on a vacation the household had taken to have a good time quite a few birthdays.

“He was struggling to breathe, so he went to different clinics for X-rays, scans and tests. We thought ‘this is really good, they’re onto it’,” she mentioned.

But as soon as they reached a hospital to choose up some antibiotics, Ms Whitemore mentioned they have been shocked to be instructed “antibiotics won’t cure cancer” and that Mr Kirby was going to die.

“Obviously, there’s a big communication barrier,” she mentioned.

“But it was so scary, my poor mum, bless her. She didn’t know anything of what was going on,” Ms Whitemore added.

She mentioned Allianz agreed to fly her stepfather to a common hospital in Athens however wouldn’t cowl the price of an air ambulance again to Yeovil.

The household warned British holidaymakers to make sure they journey with their European Health Insurance Cards and up-to-date-insurance paperwork, to keep away from a state of affairs like theirs.

Helen Whitemore mentioned: “We should have done it differently – we didn’t.

“We’re paying the value and we do not need it to occur to anybody else.

“You’re left on your own out there.”

Allianz mentioned it sympathised with Mr Kirby however was unable to pay out because of the nature of the pre-existing situation.