A student has been left fighting for his life after falling from a third floor balcony in Thailand. Jack Heathcock had just two days left of his "dream summer holiday" when the accident happened.
Two weeks on from the fall the 21-year-old is still critically ill in hospital where he is being treated for extensive injuries including fractures to his neck and pelvis as well as bleeds on his brain and lungs. He has also had operations for damage to his spleen, liver and kidneys.
Jack was backpacking with two pals when the accident happened. His parents, Joy and Ian Heathcock, flew straight out to Thailand after getting the call from one of his friends to tell him about the fall in Chiang Mai.
But the Teesside University nursing student's family is now facing a fight to get him home as they say his travel insurance is refusing to pay out on the claim. His sister Chloe, 26, told Teesside Live "Jack did have a travel insurance policy in place for the trip and my parents have been in regular contact with the travel insurance company and the British Embassy in Thailand.
"Unfortunately following their investigations, the insurers have deemed that due to the circumstances of the incident they will not be covering the claim. We are looking to appeal this decision but are heartbroken that we are left with total costs expected to exceed £40,000, this is not an amount that we as a family can afford."
What exactly led to the fall is still unclear and his family still do not know what happened or who was with him at the time. Doctors have told them Jack is unlikely to be stable enough to travel for at least another month, but they are desperate to get him home safely and as soon as possible.
Chloe, who staying at their Redcar home to look after things in the UK, has been liaising with the insurance company. She is also been trying to raise funds to get her brother home.
She said: "It's the type of thing you read about, but never expect to happen to your family."
They have now turned to fundraising efforts to get Jack the best possible care and return him home. Chloe has launched a GoFundMe page in an effort to help with costs.
Some of the student's friends have also helped her organise a fundraising evening which will take place at Dormans Club in Middlesbrough on Friday, July 14.
Jack is still in a critical condition and is currently being treated for an infection to his stomach after having surgery. However his family remain hopeful that they can get him back on his home turf and he can continue to be treated in a UK hospital.
They have been told that once he returns to Teesside, he will need to be taken to James Cook University Hospital for further treatment.
Chloe continued: "To help end this nightmare we need Jack back home to the UK, where we can get him the help and support he will undoubtedly need for his continued recovery."
If you want to contribute to the GoFundMe set up towards Jack's care, click here.
