A British tourist has been lumped with €70,000 worth of medical bills after falling ill during a trip to Benidorm.
Robert Atkinson, aka ‘Benidorm Bob’, woke up and discovered he was unable to use his legs on the last day of his holiday with his wife and friends.
He was rushed to hospital in Alicante, where doctors performed spinal surgery and told him he may never walk again after being left paralysed from the waist down.
However, despite having insurance, the company only covered a small amount of the medical costs, allegedly refusing a full payout because alcohol had been found in Robert’s system – which the family attributed to a glass of wine the night before.
Zurich Insurance also cited treatment in a private hospital and undisclosed medication use as reasons.
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The Spanish Eye has contacted Zurich Insurance for comment.
It meant Robert was effectively ‘held hostage’ in the Spanish hospital as the family were unable to afford to get him home.
They were forced to set up a GoFundMe page to pay for the hospital bills and repatriation costs, with well-wishers donating more than £12,500 out of a £15,000 target.
However, thanks to a sizeable donation from a local rugby club in York, the family have been able to get the repatriation process under way.
In an update this week his sister wrote: ‘As you can imagine all the stress of getting him home is very upsetting for him. I am in the UK now and fighting from this side. Carol (Robert’s wife) is struggling with all the difficult navigation needed to get Bob home….
‘This time should be spent focusing on Bob but she can’t as it’s been spent trying to raise funds to get him home and dealing with the hospital. She has had to sign the agreement to pay the hospital bill which is now at approx £45000.
‘We are so thankful to everyone who has donated and shared the GoFundMe page. So after a substantial private donation to Carol Atkinson from Acorn Rugby Club in York, we have managed to book transport for repatriation.
‘Bob is set to be coming home by land over the next couple of days as he’s not fit to fly. We just want him home.
‘He is paralysed from the waist down and our last hope is that when he gets back to the UK this may have something to do with the tumour that was discovered during his operation pressing on his spine.’
Bob is well known and loved around his hometown of York, including at the local pub the ‘King Willy’, where he takes up host as landlord.
The original GoFundMe post explained how he was preparing to return home to the UK with his wife and friends when ‘he discovered he was unable to get out of bed or use his legs.’
It added: ‘He was taken by ambulance to the local hospital. Following assessment by neurosurgeons he has needed emergency spinal surgery and has been in the intensive care unit following this.
‘Unfortunately following scans they have found a tumour on his spine which has accounted for the spinal break. He has been told he may not walk again.
‘As a family his wife is now battling to get Bob home back to York or the surrounding area. Before he begins the next stages of treatment for the tumour and ongoing care.
‘Unfortunately his insurance will only cover a very small portion of the medical bills and a small portion of the repatriation costs.
‘Anything anyone can donate to help Bob and his family get him home would be appreciated.’
