Grandad stuck in Croatian hospital after shock accident

APPEAL LAUNCHED TO BRING BRIAN HOME - BUT THOUSANDS ARE STILL NEEDED

- By NAOMI CORRIGAN

AN appeal has been launched to help a severely injured grandad return to the UK after an insurance error left him stranded in a hospital abroad.

Brian Ackroyd fractured his neck, skull and suffered multiple bleeds on the brain after falling on the first morning of his holiday in Dubrovnik in Croatia.

The father-of-three, who is originally from Teesville, can't walk and has also suffered nerve damage, leaving him unable to move his hands. After spending several days in intensive care, the 65-year-old is now on a neurology ward in Dubrovnik General.

Doctors have told his family they are unable to help him further and he needs to return to the UK for intensive treatment. Brian was insured with Admiral. However his family explained he had failed to disclose a recent visit to his GP and the fact he had type two diabetes.

This led to underwriters deeming his claim null and void. Admiral said it cannot comment on the specific case without Brian's permission but said they have now made a goodwill payment to assist with costs, but the family says it will not cover the medical flight home.

"Being 65 it seems he wasn't the best with inputting his details and medical records on a computer online," said his son Richard, who lives on Teesside. "My father is not very good with computers and didn't input on his policy that he was diabetic or had seen his GP three or four months earlier.

"The accident had nothing to do with any of these things. It was a simple accident. But sure enough, the insurance has pulled out and given us an estimate of between £35,000 and £40,000 to get him the medical flight back to the UK.