The family of a nurse left in a coma after suffering a cardiac arrest while on holiday are trying to raise £30,000 needed to get her home. Kerstie Metcalf, 51, was on the fourth day of her holiday in Hungary when she suddenly collapsed and her heart stopped.
The nurse was resuscitated and rushed to hospital in Pesh, Hungary. She has been in the hospital for the last 12 days in a 'coma-like state' after her brain was started starved of oxygen.
Her family have been quoted £30,000 to get her flown home and under the care of the NHS, where she worked for 30 years as a specialist wounds nurse. Her son, Sam Metcalf said: "We are devastated. We just want her home and safe, surrounded by all of us that love her.
"She really is an incredible mum and woman. Despite being disabled herself, she has continued to be a nurse and dedicated 30 years of her life helping other people’s loved ones.
“Someone who has dedicated their life to helping this country now needs and deserves our help to get well and get home. With her being so far away, it is just heartbreaking for all of us. We want our mum home.”
Her preexisting history of back problems meant she was unable to get travel or health insurance for her trip with her Hungarian partner, Akos Hasznos, 43. She was in the country visiting his family and viewing houses as a potential retirement plan.
She collapsed during a music performance Akos was in, who has not left her side ever since. Her two children, Sam, 28, and Bella, 18, are desperate to get her home and help Akos care for her.
The GoFundMe page set up to help with the flight home and her recovery treatment aims to raise £50,000. They have so far reached £16,159 in just five days. Chloe Williams, Kerstie's son's partner, 32, said: "This has been very stressful and overwhelming for the family and Akos.
"He's the only one out there with her spending hours by her side or being kicked out of the hospital. Kerstie worked selflessly and tirelessly through Covid, working double shifts, working herself to her fullest extent at the detriment of her own health, to ensure everyone in her care was protected and loved.
"She did all this whilst being recommended to shield during Covid due to being disabled herself. She has spent her entire working life protecting strangers and now she is in need of the community's help."
