A young girl faces a six-month recovery period after sustaining a fractured pelvis in a bus crash during a family holiday in Turkey. The incident, described as a "freak accident," left the girl, Greta, hospitalized for eight days before she could be transported back to the UK.
Greta's mother, Emma Williams, emphasized the crucial role of their travel insurance policy, which cost £106 and covered the €50,000 air ambulance transfer back to the United Kingdom. Williams recounted the fear Greta experienced immediately after the crash, stating that her daughter was "petrified" and sought reassurance. Williams praised her daughter's resilience, noting, "She was phenomenally strong. I'm so proud of how she coped."
Following her return, Greta was admitted to The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran for treatment and physiotherapy. Her ability to return to school is pending an assessment scheduled for September 2. Currently, she is under strict bed rest and is not permitted to walk extensively, a significant limitation during her summer holidays.
Williams expressed that the accident has left a lasting impact on the family, adding, "This is something that's going to haunt us forever." She noted that being in a foreign country amplified their fears. Despite efforts to create fun-filled experiences, the family's holiday plans were irrevocably altered. The experience has led the children to express a reluctance to travel on holiday again.
Graeme Buck from the Association of British Travel Agents stressed the importance of travel insurance, calling it a "must-have whenever you travel overseas." He advised holidaymakers that "cheap isn't always the best" and cautioned against choosing a policy based solely on price. Buck recommended that travelers review their policies to ensure they have comprehensive cover appropriate for their trip, including any planned activities.
Williams stated that the family intends to try and help their children overcome the trauma, possibly with a less adventurous trip, to ease their minds and emphasize that the accident was an isolated event. The recovery process is expected to be lengthy, with the family needing time to adjust to normalcy before fully processing the events of the holiday.