Army veteran trapped abroard

AN ARMY veteran is stranded in Lanzarote with pneumonia for 12 weeks and his family say that the insurance company will not pay for his stay.

Paul Kyriacou travelled to Lanzarote with his wife Tracey for a two-week holiday at the end of February – just before the coronavirus pandemic escalated.

However on the last day of the holiday Paul, who has served over 22 years in the Army and the rest in the NHS, collapsed and developed pneumonia. He was then admitted to hospital.

The 57-year-old has been advised by medical professionals to self isolate in Lanzarote for 12 weeks after being declared unfit to fly.

Despite having insurance, the family say that the company are not covering them for the cost of accommodation of £500 a week.

Speaking from Lanzarote, Paul said he is scared to go to the airport in case he catches coronavirus.

“The insurers want to put me on 45-hour flight via Madrid and Barcelona when I’m supposed to be self isolating. It’s just crazy.

“They wanted to put my life at risk to fly me back.

“I’m not staying here for fun, I would much rather be back home in Manchester and closer to my family but the insurers are just not interested.”

Paul’s daughter Cara Lewis, who lives in Bridgend, is desperately trying to raise as much money as possible to cover the costs.

“He had valid insurance but they are refusing to help in any way towards accommodation.

“My dad and his wife are staying in the villa which was £1000 a week, but we have managed to get that down to £500.

“He has callously been told by advisors over the phone to either get a flight or fund the stay himself.”

As Spain is currently on lockdown, there aren’t any direct flights out of the country.

Although Cara says that this would not be an option for her dad even if there were flights.

“If he contracts Covid-19 it could very likely kill him, he is very high risk.

“I am disgusted that he could be treated like this. His wife is unable to return home, as she is his carer and therefore unable to work.

“He is being abandoned and his money is going to run out.

“This is not sustainable for 12 weeks, however he has no choice. We are currently crowd funding to help,” she added.

A JustGiving page has been set up by Paul’s wife Tracey at www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ tracey-kyriacou-1.