A couple have been unable to leave Turkey after a medical emergency left them with huge bills.
Saul Daly, living in West Belfast, was on holiday in Side with his partner Kathleen McLean when he was rushed to an intensive care unit after it was found that he had a bleed in his lungs.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Kathleen said that he had been given the all-clear to fly home to Belfast to receive further treatment at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
However, the couple will not be allowed leave until Saul's bill for the hospital stay has been paid for.
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The couple says they had got insurance before going on holiday, but the insurance company is now refusing to pay all of the bill, leaving them with €17,500 to pay off to return home.
Saul is originally from Liverpool and Kathleen from Glasgow, but they have lived in the Whiterock Road area of Belfast for a number of years.
Kathleen told Belfast Live: "We came out here on May 13 for a two week holiday which was supposed to be a nice relaxing getaway.
"However, after a few days, on May 16, Saul started to complain about having a pain in his back, which we felt must have been down to the hotel bed.
"Over the next couple of days, this pain only got worse, and we asked the hotel manager to organise an appointment with the doctor. But after describing his symptoms, an ambulance arrived to take him away for tests.
"At the medical centre, Saul had scans and tests done which revealed that he had blood in his lungs and was very sick and was then transferred 85 miles away to Yasam Hospital in Antayla and was blue-lighted the whole way there.
"The treatment at the hospital has been fantastic, and a few days ago, Saul was given the all-clear to fly back to Belfast with oxygen so he can get further treatment at the Royal, as he will likely need it for another six months.
"Our problems arose, though, when we were trying to get our medical bills paid by the insurance company who have been less than helpful with everything. They have said they will only pay less than half of the bill and even told me they would refuse help altogether if we didn't stop trying to contact them.
"All while this has been going on, the medical bill has been getting larger and larger as Saul cannot leave the hospital until it has been paid."
Kathleen said that all the couple want to do is get home, and they fear they could be stuck in the country for months if the bill cannot be paid.
She said: "I have a son at home who I was meant to see two weeks ago, and I don't know when I will get to see him next.
"We have been here for four weeks, and unless we are able to raise the money to pay for this bill, I don't know what we are going to do."
Kathleen's friend Jody Mccrae has set up a GoFundme page in order to help the couple raise the €17,500 they need so they can finally return home to Belfast and Saul can continue his much-needed treatment.
If you would like to donate to the appeal, please follow this link.
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