BRIT FAMILY'S HOLIDAY DISASTER
Briton in induced coma after falling from seventh-floor balcony
WHAT should have been a relaxing family holiday in the sun has turned into a living nightmare for one family – only hours before they were due to fly home.
Neil Ellerington, partner Zoe Erving and their two sons, aged four and 10, had spent a fantastic two weeks in Benidorm, staying at the Levante Club apartments, and were due to fly back to Leeds Bradford last Thursday, June 9.
Wanting to end their holiday on a high, they spent their last night out and about, taking a stroll and enjoying a final drink.
They got back to their apartment in the early hours. After putting the boys to bed, Neil went out onto the balcony in his socks, having taken off his trainers.
For reasons unknown to Zoe, he stepped onto the slightly raised ledge and then lost his footing, slipping with no rubber sole to grip the tiled floor, and fell over the balcony before she could grab his arm – seven floors down.
The roof to the reception area fortunately broke his fall and he was still conscious on impact, with a holidaymaker leaning over from a nearby balcony trying to talk to him and keep him awake before medical help arrived.
He was rushed to Villajoyosa hospital, where he remains in an induced coma on a life support machine, after sustaining a fractured skull, a bleed on the brain, two punctured lungs and multiple fractures over his body.
Totally beside herself and torn with what to do, Zoe took the boys back home to Hull on the booked flight that Thursday morning, while Neil's father flew out to keep a vigil that same day.
She returned on Saturday with Neil’s mum, Barbara Mann, who at the time of the accident was on holiday in Turkey.
SUPPORT FROM HELP INTERNATIONAL BENIDORM
Help International Benidorm have been a great moral support to the couple and provided an interpreter to assist at the hospital.
They reluctantly flew back yesterday, leaving Neil still in a coma but needing to get back to reassure the couple's two children, with plans to return once suitable arrangements have been made at home.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
One of the worst things, Zoe said, was that they always take out travel insurance, but forgot on this occasion.
It is worth remembering that if any amount of alcohol is discovered when an accident occurs, an insurance policy will be null and void. So in this particular case, it may not have been any use. Despite this, Zoe only has praise for the medical attention her partner is receiving at the hospital and is praying that he makes a full recovery.