I made a stupid mistake on ‘holiday-mode’ in Turkey – I ended up maimed, in searing agony & my son witnessed it all | Latest Travel News
AS the airplane taxied down the runway, I set free a sigh of aid. With a busy job in occasions, and as a single mum to my son Kairo, seven, I couldn’t wait to stretch out in the solar in Turkey and get pleasure from a bit of R&R.
I’m Fia Lane, 30, from Ealing, West London and I thought our household vacation can be just the break we needed.
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Fia Lane was on vacation in Turkey with her 7-12 months-outdated
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A deadly accident left her critically injured
But in seconds, it turned into a nightmare that left me screaming in ache, needing 40 stitches and regretting one small element that practically price me hundreds.
We have been visiting my auntie, Diane, who owned an condo in Fethiye, a attractive port metropolis on the Turquoise Coast.
So in August 2023, I jetted off with Kairo, my little sister Mischa-Leigh, 1, and our Mum Cathy, 54, for our annual summer season vacation.
On the first day, we lounged on the seaside and loved dinner at a local restaurant.
The next morning, we swam in my auntie’s pool, then Mischa-Leigh and I determined to have a go on her quad bike.
My auntie’s condo was half of a advanced surrounded by quiet roads.
All the residents had a quad bike to get around on, and I’d ridden on Diane’s vehicle loads of occasions before.
I never bothered with a helmet on the quiet local roads.
So as Mischa-Leigh hopped into the motive force’s seat and I climbed on the back in my shorts and vest top, I didn’t assume twice about it.
We began circling the park, where Mum and Diane had taken Kairo for a stroll.
As we sped past, waving to them, the nice and cozy wind whipped through my hair.
I was barely conscious of the bike immediately swerving sharply.
I paid hundreds for my Turkey enamel even though I know they don’t seem to be even everlasting – trolls say I ought to kill myself
It toppled over, and I was flung off onto my facet, hitting my head on the street and blacking out.
I came upon later that a cat had walked into the quad bike’s path. Mischa-Leigh loves animals, so she’d swerved to keep away from it, by accident hitting the accelerator instead of the brake as she did so.
When I swam back into consciousness, I realised I couldn’t see. It was terrifying.
I may really feel somebody cradling my head, and the first factor I requested was, ‘Where’s my child?’ I knew Kairo would have seen the entire accident, which despatched me into a panic.
I requested the stranger holding my head – a lady who had been strolling close by – ‘Am I dying?’
The bang to my head had affected my eyesight, and I still couldn’t see a factor.
I was satisfied I was taking my last breaths.
Suddenly, feeling began coming back into my physique and I started screaming in ache.
My proper arm was twisted upwards into the air, and a searing agony pulsed through it.
I’d never felt ache like it before – but I discovered I couldn’t decrease it to ease the ache either.
My head was also throbbing. I didn’t realise at the time that there was blood pouring from a large wound in my brow.
I heard Mum, Kairo and Diane dashing over to my facet. I may hear Kairo screaming, ‘Is my mum dead?’ which was agony to hear.
The girl wanting after me told Mum to run and get my and Mischa-Leigh’s passports.
An ambulance had been called, but we needed them before they’d take us to hospital.
Mischa-Leigh had been comparatively fortunate – because she’d been holding onto the quad bike, she hadn’t been thrown off it. She managed to keep away from hitting her head, but had a deep cut on her arm.
The ambulance soon arrived, and after handing over our passports, we have been taken to a local hospital.
Gradually, in the ambulance, my sight began to return. I realised that my proper-hand facet was coated in blood, and my arm was caught straight above me in the air.
At the hospital, an X-ray confirmed that my arm was dislocated.
Mercifully, I don’t keep in mind the ache as they popped it back into place, thanks to the painkillers I’d been given making me woozy
– but Mum remembers me screaming.
I also acquired stitches in my toe, which had been break up open, and 40 stitches in my scalp and brow.
That was the second I realised I had forgotten to buy insurance coverage for the vacation.
Every time I’d visited Diane in the past, I’d made sure I had full insurance coverage, including cowl for quad biking. But this time, it slipped my thoughts.
What do you have to look for in a good journey insurance coverage coverage?
TRAVEL insurance coverage insurance policies can differ a great deal, but listed here are some “must have
- Medical expenses – A good policy will give cover of £1million or more for travel in Europe and £2million or more for the USA
- Repatriation service – The costs of getting you back to the UK for medical reasons should be covered automatically by your policy
- Cancellation and curtailment – A good policy will cover you for £2,000 or more if you have to cancel or shorten your holiday
- Missed departure – Covers additional accommodation costs and travel expenses up to £500 or more if you miss your flight due to circumstances out of your control
- Delay – You’ll usually be covered for £250 or more if your travel plans are delayed due to circumstances out of your control
- Baggage cover – Covers you if your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Look for policies that have cover of £1,500 or more.
As nurses stitched me up, I started worrying about just how much this accident was going to cost me.
Thankfully, the damage to my wallet wasn’t as bad as the physical damage – it cost £400 for my treatment, and for the 15 stitches Mischa-Leigh needed in her arm.
Sent home with my arm in a sling, we decided to see out the rest of the holiday, although we avoided the spot where I’d had the accident – and where you could still see my blood pooled on the road.
I took painkillers three times a day, and had to try and hide the bruising and swelling on my face from Kairo, who was still traumatised by the accident.
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Fia was rushed to the hospital
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She received stitches in her toe
He kept hugging me, and asking if I was OK. That was part of the reason I was determined to see out the holiday, despite the pain – so
he could replace those awful memories with happier ones.
Back home in Ealing, West London two weeks after the accident, I moved in with Mum for three months.
Because my right arm was injured, I couldn’t do anything for myself or Kairo without help. She had to help me wash my hair and even help me get dressed.
She also insisted I go back to hospital, where new X-rays showed that as well as dislocating my shoulder, I’d broken my arm in the accident. I was given a more supportive sling, and referred for physiotherapy.
If the doctors in Turkey had spotted the break, my medical bill would have skyrocketed – but because they didn’t, I still can’t move my arm properly, and it gives me a lot of pain.
My shoulder isn’t properly aligned either. I’m currently waiting for physiotherapy, and could even face surgery.
As well as my long-term health issues, Kairo still hasn’t got over the accident.
He’s happy to go on holiday again – as long as it’s not to Turkey. If I suggest visiting Diane, it’s an instant, ‘No way.’
He still talks about it all the time, and I worry he’ll never forget seeing me injured like that.
I’d urge anyone reading this who is looking forward to their holiday to check they have full health insurance, including cover for any risky activities.
I was lucky that my trip to the hospital didn’t cost me thousands.
But the biggest lesson I’ve learned is to always wear a helmet if you’re going to ride any kind of vehicle on holiday.
Whizzing around with the wind in your hair might feel like a fun, innocent activity, but quad bikes are heavy, serious pieces of machinery, and you can easily get hurt.
I certainly wouldn’t go on one again. I’ve paid a heavy price for my bit of fun in the sun – but the cost could have been far higher.
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The accident left Fia with a broken arm, dislocated shoulder and stitches to her head
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She paid a heavy price for forgetting to book insurance
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Fia said her son, Kairo, was left traumatised
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Kairo is still scarred from the accident
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Fia says her son no longer needs to vacation in Turkey
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