The family of an 'amazing' woman who is in a coma after a road accident in Cyprus have spoken of their anguish, as they try to get her home to the UK.
Ellie Horrocks was rushed to hospital after her buggy overturned in Ayia Napa on Monday. A serious head injury and fractures to her spinal cord and collar bone meant she had to be put her into a medically-induced coma.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Ellie's aunt Sarah said her niece had moved to Cyprus in May to work in a bar and enjoy her youth.
Sarah said: "She's young, so she likes going out with her friends, she's got loads and loads of friends, but she's also just a very creative person. She's a really, really, well-loved girl."
She said Ellie, from Westhoughton in Bolton, had hired a buggy to go and see the sunset when she was forced to swerve to avoid an oncoming car. The vehicle overturned, and Ellie was left with serious injuries to her head and spine.
Her mum Leanne has flown to Cyprus to visit Ellie in Nicosia Hospital - but they're hoping to be able to raise enough money to bring her home to finish her recovery.
"It's awful - none of us are sleeping," Sarah said. "Her condition is just so unknown at the moment. Every day, her mum gets a call off the doctor at 11am, and then they can only see Ellie for one hour."
It could costa as much as £60,000 to bring Ellie home, and the cost isn't covered by her insurance. The family have launched a GoFundMe, which has so far raised £24,000 to go towards the cost of an air ambulance.
In a statement on the GoFundMe page, mum Leanne said the family would appreciate any support.
She wrote: "Your donation will go directly towards the cost of on-going medical treatment in Cyprus and an air ambulance back to the UK. Any amount you can contribute will help Ellie to get the care and treatment she needs to reach a full recovery.
"As you can imagine this is any parents worst nightmare and I desperately need to get her home."
Sarah added: "All the donations and the kindness everyone has shown has just been incredible. So we want to thank them all."
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
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