A BRITISH granddad has been left unable to walk following a horrific fall while on holiday in the Mediterranean.
Brian Ackroyd must now endure a gruelling 30-hour journey home this weekend for essential treatment in Lancashire.
Originally from Teesville, Brian has been hospitalised in Dubrovnik, Croatia for the past month after sustaining major injuries.
These include a fractured skull and a broken C2 vertebra.
The 65-year-old also suffered nerve damage and three bleeds on the brain after falling in Cavtat on the first day of his holiday.
After spending an initial period in intensive care, the father-of-three is now receiving treatment on the neurology ward at the Dubrovnik General Hospital.
His family have set up a fundraiser to help bring him home after an insurance mix-up meant his claim was denied.
Brian had taken out holiday insurance policy, but the provider refused to pay out because he had not disclosed certain medical details.
The insurer made a goodwill payment of around £5,000 which has gone towards the £14,000 required to transport him back via road ambulance.
Brian is now set to depart Dubrovnik General Hospital on Thursday moring.
He will travel through multiple European countries before entering the UK via the Channel Tunnel.
From there, he will travel on to Preston for further care.
His partner, Debbie Wright, said: “He’ll be coming home in a land ambulance with a British medical crew.
“Specialist nurses are flying out tomorrow to meet him, and they’ll set off at 8am on Thursday.
“It’s not without risk, but we simply couldn’t raise the £35,000 to £40,000 needed for a medical flight.
“His injuries are stable, but he’s not progressing as hoped.
“This hospital focuses on lifesaving care, and once that’s done, patients are moved on.
“Brian can hardly use his hands, and his cognitive abilities are nowhere near where they were.”
Brian had been walking on a public footpath on October 27 when he fell.
His son Richard said: “His partner told us he must have lost his balance and fallen backwards, headfirst into a crevice.
“He hit his head on a rock and ended up trapped upside down, bleeding heavily.”
Local residents nearby heard Debbie’s cries for helps and called the emergency services.
“We were told he’s been incredibly lucky – nine times out of ten a neck fracture like this would be fatal,” Richard added.
“The hospital has said he now needs to be back in the UK for intensive rehabilitation.”
Ackroyd worked as a lorry driver but was forced to retire due to prostate cancer.
His partner said he did have some money in the bank, but it was quickly used up after his diagnosis meant he could no longer work.
Debbie and Richard have remained with him in Croatia ever since the accident.
They will fly home separately on Wednesday so they can meet him when he arrives in northwest.
A link to the Brian’s fundraiser can be found here.
