Dad's holiday to Greece turns to nightmare as desperate family make plea
A British dad is stuck in Greece with pneumonia and suspected cancer after a dream holiday turned into a nightmare earlier this month.
Alan Kirby, 67, had flown to the holiday hotspot with his family on Thursday, July 3, but soon became unwell and was shocked to learn he may have cancer.
Alan, from Somerset, checked into a clinic on Sunday, July 6 and was told he needed antibiotics for a chest infection. However, as reported by Somerset Live, after being transferred to a hospital his step-daughter says he was bluntly told "antibiotics won't cure cancer".
Liza Whitmore says he needs to be home in the UK for a biopsy, where doctors will be able to confirm a cancer diagnosis and give more details plus a prognosis. However, while Alan's insurance covered a flight from Zante Hospital to a general hospital in Athens, it does not cover a flight to the UK.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
He is now being treated for pneumonia, but needs to be home for cancer treatment, according to his family. Liza, who was forced to go home to the UK without him, said: "Time is not on our side. If it is cancer, we need to get him home for treatment."
Liza has approached the British Embassy for help, but they were not able to finance Alan's return to the UK. They advised her to set up a fundraiser to cover costs for his treatment in Greece and for a flight home.
At time of writing, the fundraiser has raised £1,703. However, Liza owes €14,194.74 to Athens Hospital where he is still being treated with half of it due today and the other half due in August - and more still is needed for a flight home.
Liza has warned others about planning carefully before going on holiday.
She says they did not declare a benign tumour that Alan was diagnosed with the year previously as he felt well and they did not believe it was relevant - but now it appears this declaration failure has made their insurance void.
She also urged people going abroad to remember to bring a valid EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), to declare everything on their travel insurance application and to request a 'fit to fly' certificate if necessary.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
10 DWP health conditions offering monthly payments of £749
The DWP has revealed the most popular health conditions for PIP claims in Great Britain, with the benefit providing support for a variety of disorders, diseases and conditions. Fresh figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that more than 3.7 million people across Great Britain are now claiming extra financial help through Personal Independence Payment (PIP), representing a 2 per cent rise since January (80,127). The DWP has said that demand for PIP has hit "unprecedented levels of new claims in recent quarters", with 210,000 applications submitted between 31st January and 30th April. A successful PIP award is valued at between £116.80 and £749.80 every four-week payment period. The DWP's figures also show that 37 per cent of all successful PIP claims qualify for the top level of award, with both daily living and mobility components paid at the enhanced rate, keeping the same proportion as January 2025, reports the Daily Record. 10 most-claimed PIP health conditions Psychiatric disorders - 1,444,016 claimants Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 707,084 claimants Neurological disease - 476,659 Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 447,794 claimants Respiratory disease - 138,428 claimants Malignant disease - 121,154 claimants Cardiovascular disease - 97,372 claimants Visual disease - 58,960 claimants Endocrine disease - 48,760 claimants Hearing disorders - 39,418 claimants PIP provides weekly support ranging from £29.20 to £187.45, which equates to £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. These disability benefits aim to help individuals with the additional costs associated with living with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. Many people may not be aware that PIP can provide support for hundreds of health conditions. Both benefits could assist people with daily living tasks or mobility, or both. However, it wouldn't be beneficial to list all 536 conditions recorded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) during the PIP application process. This is because an award for the disability benefit is determined by how a person's health condition impacts their ability to perform daily living tasks. There are also awards available to help if you have difficulty moving around. This implies that every PIP claim is unique to the individual applicant, which could also be beneficial for those contemplating making a new claim to start the process. Here's a detailed breakdown of PIP, including the top five most-claimed conditions and the main disabling conditions, as classified by the DWP. PIP cannot be backdated, but payments begin from the date the claim was filed, to compensate for the DWP's processing time. The DWP documents various disabling conditions. These are the primary disability categories, under which over 530 other conditions are categorised. This list simply provides a glimpse of the conditions, disorders and diseases and how the DWP classifies the main disabilities being claimed for.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Viral photo of 'starving' child in Gaza is misleading
This has led President Donald Trump to say he wanted to boost U.S. humanitarian efforts in war-torn Gaza. Hamas terrorists in Gaza started the war on Oct. 7, 2023, when they attacked Israel, slaughtering and kidnapping hundreds of Israeli citizens. Palestinian civilians are now paying the price for those atrocities. Opinion: Trump is racking up GOP wins no one else could. What do Never Trumpers say now? "We can save a lot of people," Trump said July 28, while meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland. "I mean, some of those kids are - that's real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can't fake it." But what if you can? New York Times does damage control after misleading image The photograph of one mother and child in particular has created a firestorm. The New York Times published a lengthy report online about alleged starvation in Gaza on July 24, featuring 18-month-old Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq. Photos show a child in distress, with his bones painfully visible. His mother tries to comfort him. The Times then ran the story on its print front page July 25, with the photo of the child and his mother as the leading image. The caption says the child was "born healthy" but is suffering from "severe malnutrition." Yet, it turned out there was more to the story. Five days after the story was published, on July 29, The Times issued an editor's note (buried at the bottom of the article) as well as a brief statement on its communications social media page that offered readers much-needed context. The note "clarifies" that the child suffers from serious "pre-existing health problems." "We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated him and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his pre-existing health problems," a Times spokesperson said in the statement. "This additional detail gives readers a greater understanding of his situation." That's putting it mildly. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. The Times certainly wasn't alone in running images of Mohammed. Others, including CNN, did as well. After all, a picture paints a thousand words. And these photos went viral, making Mohammed the face of starving children across Gaza. It also buoyed the narrative pushed by the media and progressives that Israel is at fault for blocking aid from flowing to the Palestinians in need. Opinion: Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad triggers liberals. She looks good. They don't. Too many journalists have abandoned truth for advocacy But thanks to the reporting of independent journalists and pushback from Israel officials, the truth has come out. The state of Israel posted on social media another photograph of the mother and child, which features the child's older brother, who appears healthy. The contrast makes it clear that there's much more contributing to Mohammed's condition than lack of food. "BBC, CNN, Daily Express, and The New York Times spread a misleading story using a picture of a sick, disabled child to promote a narrative of mass starvation in Gaza - playing into the hands of Hamas's propaganda war," the post states. Share your opinion: Are you concerned about starvation in Gaza? Should US do more to help? Tell us. | Opinion Forum Americans deserve the full story. For instance, David Makovsky, director of the program on Arab-Israel Relations at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, recently pointed out on X that a United Nations report shows that "87% of its 2,010 food trucks in Gaza (85% by tonnage) from May 19-July 29 were 'intercepted' - either peacefully by crowds or forcefully by armed actors." In other words, Hamas is intercepting food meant for civilians. That's worth reporting. Trump is right to feel empathy for the innocent civilians in Gaza, especially the children. But it's Hamas who deserves the blame for their plight - not Israel. As Trump noted in a July 31 Truth Social post, "The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!" The truth is that Hamas is using the suffering of those who live under its grip to try to achieve its aims. That's the real tragedy. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'This £20 bag is my secret to avoiding Ryanair and easyJet luggage fines'
Airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, and WhizzAir charge for cabin bags, but this affordable backpack helps me ditch the fees It's easy to spot what seems like an affordable return ticket or a last-minute city break from a local UK airport. When it comes to booking, this is quickly shattered at the luggage section, as airlines charge for anything bigger than a 'personal item'. This includes small cabin bags, unless they fit under the seat in front, and sizing it wrong comes with a hefty fee at the boarding gate. Ryanair has different fees for 10kg and 20kg checked bags, while easyJet offers a large cabin bag option (56 x 45 x 25 cm) for a fee. For the last two years, I've used a simple yet effective Cabin Max bag, which has currently dropped in price in Amazon's sale, and I've never faced a fine at the gate. There's been no worrying about if it'll fit in the sizer, it's small enough to count as a personal item, and it fits enough outfits for a week's holiday. In total, I've done more than 12 flights with it across Europe from Copenhagen to Milan, Antwerp, and Dublin. Each time, I'm surprised how much I manage to fit in it. The exact clothes change each time, from four pairs of trousers (including jeans), six tops, a light jumper, PJs, on a winter trip to summer dresses and bikinis on a warmer holiday. However, the one thing I'd say is it tricky to fit shoes. Cabin Max under-seat bag £34 £19.95 Amazon Buy Here Product Description I've had to limit myself to just one pair of trainers or sandals. The bag measures 40 x 25 x 20, which meets the requirements for easyJet and WhizzAir, but not Ryanair (technically), even though I've used it numerous times with them, making sure not to fill it to the brim because it's a soft bag, it still fits in the sizer. There's a separate padded pocket for a laptop, which also comes in handy for passports, and it zips out like a suitcase. This is a favourite feature of mine, as it makes it easy to see the outfits neatly laid out. The only downside I'd mention is the design, it's not my favourite, and sometimes I wish I'd picked a different one. The same bag is also sold on the brand's site, for £1 more than Amazon's sale, now £20. For an alternative, this duffle bag from Dunelm is an even cheaper option for £10, however, it's shoulder strap may be uncomfortable if you're walking with luggage and sightseeing. For a premium option, British brand Antler has the Chelsea Backpack. Another backpack option, this would also fit under the seat of an airline. It's currently £98 on sale from its usual £144 price. Airline free carry-on restrictions:
