Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Laura Sharman

Man 'trapped' at hospital abroad fearing he'll die alone as he begs to go home

A man with multiple sclerosis fears he will die alone after getting "trapped" at a Czech hospice.

Philip Curtis, 54, said he is degraded by nurses and struggles to eat daily at the centre where he is stuck in debilitating conditions.

More than £3,000 has been raised in a desperate bid to get him back to his Sandwell home in the Black Country.

“The British embassy is trying to sort my issue but it’s a slow process full of red tape," he said.

"I also do not have the funds to pay to get me home. As a result, I’m trapped here”.

Mr Curtis was raised in Sandwell and moved to the Czech Republic with his girlfriend in 1995.

He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2002 and said it has had a massive impact on his life.

Mr Curtis shared a desperate appeal for help to come home (BPM Media)

The incurable condition is caused by the immune system which mistakenly attacks the brain and nerves.

Mr Curtis told the Express he later married his partner, but lost his job in 2012 which he said led to the end of their relationship and the deterioration of his condition.

“It has now progressed to a state where I only have limited movement in my right arm and unfortunately I am left handed," he added.

The Brit claimed that the hospice where he has been staying for three years does not have adequate funding to help him.

He shares his room with three elderly men and told how he has watched “many people pass away” at the hospice which is “destroying my mental health”.

Mr Curtis’ friends are fighting hard to raise the funds for his return and have set up a GoFundMe page.

But the cost of returning to the UK for Mr Curtis has increased substantially due to his condition.

So far, £3,150 has been raised of the £20,000 necessary to help him.

His lifelong friend, who set up the fundraiser, said: "Phil worked and fell in love with this country.

"He had a good job and a dream life, then his life started to fall apart. He lost his job, he was diagnosed with MS... this has had a massive impact on Philip's life.

"His MS worsened, the country isn’t equipped for his condition and he is bedridden 24/7 residing in a hospice where he regularly sees residents die.

"He has no family or friends now and his only communication to the outside world is via his laptop. This is an awful situation to live in.

"In 12 months time his passport expires and he now lies in his bed 24/7 wondering what will happen.

"He has contacted both the Red Cross and the British Embassy and they have agreed to support him wherever possible, however this comes at a cost."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.