Tears of joy as Scots E.coli teacher is flown home

THE mother of a Scottish cancer patient who contracted E.coli during an operation in Turkey yesterday fought back tears of delight after her daughter was flown home.

Teacher Caroline Hope had been at the centre of a £31,000 crowdfunding drive to pay for her return.

The 37-year-old was receiving treatment for colon cancer at the Medical Park Hospital in Izmir when she contracted the potentially deadly E.coli bug during surgery. Miss Hope also suffered a perforated bowel during the botched operation.

She arrived back in Scotland on Saturday via air ambulance. Her relieved mother Catherine Hope, 74, told of her happiness that her daughter is now being treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

Speaking from her home in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, she said: ‘Caroline was sedated but she knew I was there. It was very emotional. She’s in a really bad way. Her wounds are terrible.’

Holding back tears, she added: ‘None of this would have been possible without the help of all the people who donated, they have saved my daughter’s life. I can’t thank them enough.’

Miss Hope had been in hospital since June 12 until her brother Scott Hope, 39, kick-started the fundraising effort along with friend Bella Shek.

The fund has so far raised £32,000, more than the £29,000 needed.

Miss Hope yesterday told the BBC she was feeling much better and wanted to thank everyone who had helped get her back to Scotland. She said being back in the UK had given her a ‘huge boost’.