‘Gran went through so much...we’ll miss her’

A DUNDEE woman who was stranded in Bulgaria with a broken leg for two weeks has died at the age of 73.

Ann Stupart, who suffered from dementia, slipped and fell — breaking her femur — while on holiday with nine family members in Sunny Beach in September.

Ann’s granddaughter Leighanne Nicol, 27, stayed with her in Bulgaria along with Ann’s partner Alex, 69, when doctors said she would not be able to fly home.

After initial fears that she would be stranded abroad indefinitely, a crowdfunding campaign managed to secure her return to Dundee almost two weeks after her fall on September 20.

But the Ardler woman died in the early hours of Thursday morning after complications with her breathing.

Leighanne today told the Tele that Ann managed to spend only two days out of hospital after returning from Bulgaria.

She added that the family were “lost” without her.

Leighanne said: “We weren’t expecting it — we thought that she would get better but we got a call from the hospital a week past Monday saying that her breathing had got really bad.

“We were there from Monday until she passed away in the early hours of Thursday.

“It is a heartbreaking time for us — she had been through so much.

“She is going to leave a massive hole in our lives.

“The family are devastated — my grandad is completely lost without her.”

After returning from Bulgaria, Ann was admitted to Ninewells Hospital where she had an emergency hip replacement operation.

She was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital for further treatment.

But she never recovered sufficiently to return home permanently.

Leighanne said: “I think that because she was in hospital so long she thought that she was never going to get to go home.

“I think she just gave up because of that.”

Leighanne said that despite the family’s traumatic ordeal i n Bulgaria, they have many happier memories of Ann.

She said: “We have got amazing memories of when we were young.

“We used to go on holiday together as a family every year.

“It is j ust a shame that the Bulgaria trip was her last because of everything she went through.

“I will always wish that we had never gone there in the first place — she went through so much because of that trip.

“We are all going to miss her so much — it is completely heartbreaking.

“At least we have our good memories of her too.”

Ann’s funeral service takes place at James Ashton & Son Ltd funeral directors on Cardean Street tomorrow at 11.30am.

She will then be laid to rest at Birkhill Cemetery at 12.15pm.

Ann with her husband Alex pictured before flying home from Bulgaria.