A British holidaymaker who thought she had heatstroke is fighting for her life in a hospital in Turkey after a seizure caused her heart to stop.
Melissa Kinsella, known affectionately as Missy by friends and family, is on a trip with her partner Jay Smith, his family and three children.
The 30-year-old was due to fly home on Monday, May 15 but collapsed in the airport after suddenly suffering a seizure, causing her heart to stop, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Melissa, from Moreton in Merseyside, is now in intensive care in a coma and on a ventilator as she cannot breathe for herself. Turkish doctors told her family she had swelling on her brain and heart.
Rebecca Dath, who is one of Melissa's best friends, said the 30-year-old had complained on social media the day before she collapsed that she thought she may be suffering from heatstroke.
Rebecca said: "She was vomiting, felt unwell and that was the day before. When she got to the airport, she had a seizure and collapsed. That's been it since, she has been in intensive care on life support in Turkey."
Melissa is not known to have other serious or underlying health problems and doctors are now waiting for the swelling to her brain to reduce so they can carry out other medical procedures.
Rebecca added: "Doctors don't know what has caused it, but she has swelling on the brain and swelling on her heart.
"Jay was hysterical. Missy's mum and dad were holidaying in Turkey in another area with Missy's auntie and uncles and partner. Jay rang her auntie hysterically because her heart stopped and her children were there."
As Melissa is in a coma, the family are unable to find out if she had medical travel insurance and the Turkey hospital is charging £1,800 a day for treatment. The family have also been told an air ambulance to bring Melissa home would cost around £42,000.
Rebecca has now set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the cost. To donate to the GoFundMe page, please click here.
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