Drama on vacation in Türkiye: mother fights for son and donations for return!

Drama on vacation in Türkiye: mother fights for son and donations for return!

Kay Bainbridge, a mother from Rainham, England, experienced a frightening medical emergency while vacationing in Turkey. On May 20, her five-year-old son Layton woke up with severe stomach pain and vomiting, leaving the family in a dramatic situation. Kay was denied first aid at an emergency clinic in Istanbul until she handed over all her cash. Layton had a twisted intestine and it was necessary to remove tissue.

Kay was alone during this difficult time as her family had to leave early. Although she had taken out international health insurance, she initially had to bear the costs herself. This led to a desperate request for financial support on the “Gofundme” platform, which brought Kay over 3,500 euros. “It's not about the money, I'm just happy to be home,” Kay later explained.

Medical Adventures in Turkey

The experience in the emergency clinic was anything but satisfactory. Kay described the conditions as appalling and the food as inadequate. She also felt intimidated by the staff and not sufficiently informed. After initial treatment, Layton was transferred to a private hospital in Alanya, where it was discovered that a possible faulty operation had taken place. A “fit-to-fly certificate” from the first hospital turned out to be false.

During her stay in Turkey, Kay's passports had temporarily disappeared, which was only resolved after threats to the police. Layton's situation eventually improved in the new hospital, but the insurance company still insisted that the family stay in Turkey until May 31, without room or board. Kay found herself in a hopeless situation and threatened to have to spend the night on the street or at the airport with her sick child.

Importance of travel health insurance

Kay's experiences make it clear how important it is to find out about the necessary insurance and its benefits before traveling. According to the Ergo travel insurance website, it is advisable to contact the international health insurance emergency call center as early as possible. This support can be crucial, particularly for inpatient treatment in Turkish hospitals, as it is integrated into the clinic's case management and supports patients in organizing treatments and reimbursement of costs.

In addition, it is recommended that you get a second opinion for planned operations and not allow yourself to be put under pressure. This allows travelers to better respond to unexpected medical incidents.

Despite the challenges Kay and Layton faced during their vacation, the family was eventually able to return home thanks to the donations. Now Kay hopes that her complaint to the insurance company will be successful and that other travelers will be spared similar experiences.