A mum is stranded in a Turkish hospital after a horrific accident saw her "thrown" off a cliff with her 10-year-old son.
Rebekka Kelly, 30, decided to book a holiday to Turkey for herself and eldest son Sonny after her youngest was due to go away with his dad. Having booked a TUI package to Antalya, the pair set off to enjoy their trip on August 26.
But what should have been an exciting time away soon ended in disaster after a horrific accident which led to Rebekka being rushed to hospital. On September 2, Rebekka booked an excursion via a TUI rep for a buggy safari tour.
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Despite the original engine "failing", they were given a new buggy and sent on their way to enjoy the trip. However, problems with the steering led to a serious accident in which the buggy "flew off a cliff". Rebekka, who said her seatbelt also failed, was "thrown out of the buggy" and lost consciousness.
After the accident, the Birkenhead mum was rushed to hospital for two major operations having broken seven vertebra in her spine and her pelvis as well as an internal bleed, but two weeks on remains in hospital. Adding to the traumatic time, Rebekka fears the insurance does not cover her and she faces hospital bills of over £50,000.
The 30-year-old told the ECHO: "I booked with the TUI rep at the hotel and it was advertised with insurance cover. I had holiday insurance myself but that won't cover the accident because it's classed as an off road sport.
"But despite advertising the excursion with insurance cover, we haven't heard anything as to whether I will be covered. My sister-in-law has called every Tom, Dick and Harry but is getting nowhere. I'm fed up, I just want to get home.
"While the steering failed, my seat belt failed to keep me in the buggy and I was thrown out down the cliff, thankfully Sonny's seatbelt kept him in. I feel if my seatbelt actually did it’s job I wouldn’t have the injuries I have."
Rebekka's brother Rocky, said 10-year-old Sonny is back in the UK with him, "battered and bruised" and extremely upset. Trying to get his sister home, he said they "just don't know what to do". He said online, the trip "advertises insurance as included".
He added: "The hospital have been hounding her for money, she's been there for two weeks. She was told she could come home via air ambulance this week but nothing has been arranged.
"She had her own holiday insurance but the small print said they weren't insured for this accident, they were nice don't get me wrong but the TUI excursion advertises its own insurance cover as part of the deal.
"She's in a bad way. She can't get out of bed, she's away from her two children. TUI aren't getting back to us, we need to get her back home so she can have more surgery in the UK but we can't get through to anyone.
"We are really concerned about her. If TUI aren't willing to pay out the insurance and pay the medical bill we don't know what we are going to do, we don't have that kind of money and through no fault of her own she's facing this.
"These injuries are going to change her life and we still don't know the true extent until she's home. Sonny is crying, he's in so much pain emotionally. We've made hundreds of phone calls to TUI, they are supplying flights so we can see her but we've heard nothing about the insurance cover.
"We haven't a clue what is going in. It says on the advert the price includes insurance so why aren't they helping? Rebekka is really struggling. She has no memory of how she got to the hospital, she was knocked unconscious."
Rocky went on to say he feels they are being "neglected" by TUI and fear how they can raise the funds to get Rebekka home. He said: "An air ambulance itself is about £20,000.
"It's disgusting and cruel, she was on holiday and she has been left by those responsible for her health. It's not her fault she's had this accident but she has been left there.
"Nothing has been arranged for her to come home, she needs to stay in hospital once home as well. My partner put a post on Facebook and it's had hundreds of comments with similar stories. We've heard people have died on this excursion why are people's lives being put at risk?
"We've been told the medical bill alone is around £50k, we haven’t had one call from TUI explaining any thing, we are extremely worried about Rebekka as her mental state is deteriorating rapidly."
TUI has been approached for comment.
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