A mum of two has vowed never to travel abroad again after a quad bike accident left her with a broken back and a £28,000 bill.
Last month, Diane Steadman and her partner, Mick Raftery, travelled to the Greek island of Skiathos for a two-week vacation, quad biking across various idyllic beaches.
However, tragedy would strike on the last day of their holiday when the couple were allegedly struck by a car while heading back to the rental store to return their vehicle.
The impact of the car crashing into the back of the bike sent both Mick and Diane flying, and while Mick was fortunate enough to walk away from the accident with cuts and bruises, Diane suffered fractures to two of her vertebrae.
Diane and Mick had enjoyed a two-week trip to Greece when tragedy struck on their last day (Kennedy News and Media)
“I felt a jump in my back and I don’t remember anything else,” Diane recalled. “All I remember is waking up on the road.
“I was in and out of consciousness, I didn’t have the energy to speak to anybody when I woke up,” she continued.
“I tried to be strong but I’m so frightened, I feel like I’m going to die.”
The 61-year-old was rushed by ambulance to an emergency medical centre before being transferred to the Greek mainland for further treatment. After purchasing travel insurance before the trip, Diane had believed she would be covered for the accident.
However, when the carer went to file a claim, it emerged that her provider didn’t cover accidents from quadbikes, meaning she would now be forced to pay out of pocket for any healthcare she received in Greece.
The couple were hit from behind while driving back to the quadbike rental store, leaving Diane with a broken spine (Kennedy News and Media)
Not covered by their travel insurance, the couple have been forced to pay £28,000 for a medical ambulance home (Kennedy News and Media)
Unable to afford the £40,000 operating fees, Diane was left with no choice but to borrow £28,000 in order to cover her flight home in an air ambulance.
The couple are now fundraising to help cover the cost of the medical transport, which brought them back to the UK on 30 September.
Now back home in Warwickshire and waiting for an operation, Diane has been left ‘terrified’ by the experience and has vowed never to travel abroad again.
Diane is now awating surgery (Kennedy News and Media)
“It’s just been one thing after another, I will not be going abroad again, no way,” she said.
“Mick has been brave and tried to put a smile on my face. I’m scared of the operation, everyone is telling me it’s going to be okay.”
Meanwhile, Mick has urged people to make sure they read the fine print on travel insurance policies before jetting out so they don’t find themselves in a similar situation.
“Check your insurance before you rent a quad bike,” he added. “We were mistaken in thinking insurance covered quad bikes too.”
You can donate to Diane’s fundraiser here.
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