It was supposed to be a chance to relax and enjoy some downtime, but just a day after landing in Egypt for a 10-day break, Kaylum Jones found himself in hospital with a catastrophic injury, and a bill of £35,000.
Kaylum and his partner arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh on September 29. A day later, the holiday turned to horror.
“We had just returned to our room after being at the pool, and had trodden water into the hotel room. I went to exit the room, fell, slipped and went through the glass of the doors in the bathroom,” he said, speaking with MKFM from his hospital bed.
The accident severed the artery in his leg and Kaylum was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.
Kaylum and his partner had taken out travel insurance when they landed in Egypt, but that was too late: “We didn't know that would cause it to be void. We thought it would be valid from purchase,” he said.
The decision not to purchase at the time of booking the holiday will now cost him dearly – Kaylum is liable for the cost of the surgery and the journey back home to Milton Keynes, a combined bill of £35,000.
“We have had to do a lot of borrowing from family members to pay a chunk of what is needed,” Kaylum said, “We have around 20K from loans, credit cards and thousands of pounds from family members.”
And there will be no flight home until the majority of the money is raised.
“We have to pay £30K upfront, and then when we return home we have a 30 day period to settle the outstanding 5K.”
A GoFundMe Campaign to help with the costs set up by his sister has so far raised four and a half thousand pounds.
Meanwhile, Kaylum says he is being looked after well by the health professionals charged with his care: “It has been great and I can't fault any of the doctors or nurses,” he said.
He is dealing with the pain as best he can, and 'trying to remain positive,' as he waits to see how, and when, he will make it home to continue his recovery.
“I want to say thank you to everyone for the love and support, it’s overwhelming,” Kaylum added, “Old friends, new friends, strangers and family have all helped me stay so positive. Thank you to everyone who has even shared the GoFundMe page! It goes a long way.”
Visit Kaylum's GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kaylums-medical-treatment-emergency
