The family of a Walworth man on life support in Portugal after falling from a balcony are desperately trying to raise £30,000 to bring him back to London.
Oliver Hillier, a trainee firefighter and carer for his mum, fell from the second floor of a hotel balcony on July 22, while on a family holiday in Madeira, Portugal. The circumstances leading up to the fall are still unknown.
Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma and have performed brain surgery, but he is still fighting for his life.
If he becomes stable enough to move, medics have told the Walworth Road family that bringing him back to the UK by air ambulance will cost in excess of £30,000.
His hospital bills are covered by emergency European Health Insurance, but only until mid-August, as the News understands he did not have travel insurance of his own.
His sister, Rachel Hillier, wrote on her online Go Fund Me page: “We still don’t know how it happened but the whole family are devastated.
“Oliver went on holiday with our Mum, Nan and his nephew to look after them, as my mum is disabled and it’s my nephew’s first holiday abroad.
“There is nothing he wouldn’t do for anyone, he is the glue that holds us all together and to bring him home will cost £30,000.
“We need him home with us to bring the smile and laughter and light back into our lives.
“We all know it’s going to be a long road to recovery for him but being in a different country away from his family and friends just doesn’t bear thinking about.”
She said the family were ‘so thankful and amazed’ by the generosity shown by those who had donated already.
At the time of going to press, their Go Fund Me page was close to reaching £6,000 from nearly 300 donors.
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/hvv5q-bring-our-brother-home
Shows how important it is that you get insurance before travelling.
Hope that he recovers fully
Therein is the lesson for us all. Do NOT travel anywhere without proper travel insurance.
Saving a few quid may well be a good idea, but not if your saving of £50 or so leaves your family and friends facing bills of £30,000 to get you back into the country after a mishap abroad.
Mine costs me about £80 but provides cover for myself and my wife for that whole of Europe and around the Mediterranean for all the trips we make per year year.
I’m not spamming anyone, I won’t even add any links.
Just get out there and do your own research.
Far better to spend a few quid on insuring against something that may never happen that being a cheapskate then leaving familiy and friends facing a huge bill!