Friends and family of Allan Cox have launched a fundraising campaign in a bid to bring him home to Port Talbot
A Welsh holidaymaker has been left stranded in the Caribbean where he was visiting his wife for their first anniversary – and cannot leave until he forks out £45,000 for a medical bill.
Allan Cox, 45, had to have emergency service on his pancreas in the Dominican Republic, but his insurers have refused to cover the £45,000 cost of the treatment because he failed to declare an existing medical condition.
Allan Cox from Port Talbot is stranded in the Dominican Republic after his passport was seized – and he’s having to cough up £45k to get it back. Photo courtesy http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
Now Port Talbot carer Allan faces being away from his family for Christmas, with his mum declaring: “I’m frightened that I’m going to lose him.”
His passport has been seized and will not be handed back until the bill for his treatment at the hospital is paid.
And friends and family have started a fundraising campaign in a bid to bring church-going Allan back to his home.
Friend Raymond Davies said: “We are incredibly concerned for Allan’s wellbeing at the moment.
“At the end of the day, Allan’s life is at risk, and we need to make sure we get him home, pay off his debts and get him some medical treatment as soon as possible.
“The hospital want to discharge him on next Tuesday, but they say they are keeping his passport until he is able to pay for the treatment he has received. How on earth is he expected to get home? It’s disgusting.
“He is seriously ill, and we need as much support as we can get before it is too late.”
‘I’m frightened I’m going to lose him’
His mum Ceinwen Cox, 65, added: “We thought that we could sort out the rest of the payments to the hospital when we got him home but we can’t.
“It has got to be paid before they release his passport to him and there’s no way that I can get the money quick enough to get my son home and I’m frightened that I’m going to lose him.”
Ceinwen flew out to be by Allan’s bedside and spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic but is now back at her home in Port Talbot.
Allan and Laisas were celebrating their first anniversary. Photo courtesy http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
Allan was in the Dominican Republic to visit his wife Laisas who lives in the country. But he fell ill while abroad when gall stones became trapped in his pancreas.
‘Desperate to see his wife’
He flew to the Caribbean on November 15 but fell ill shortly after arriving and was admitted to hospital the following day.
Allan was due to have an operation to remove his gall bladder before flying abroad but he did not want to cancel his flights.
“It might sound silly, but obviously he had no idea how serious it could turn out,” added Mr Davies.
“He was desperate to go and see his wife for their first anniversary.”
He and Laisas married last year after meeting online through a Christian dating service and he was in the Caribbean country to celebrate their first anniversary as husband and wife.
Laisas is currently in the process of applying for a visa so she can join Allan in the UK.
MP writes to foreign secretary
His insurance company refused to pay for the costs as he failed to disclose he had a “pre-existing condition” – and was already due to have an operation on his gall bladder.
Allan’s MP, Aberavon‘s Stephen Kinnock said: “This is obviously a very difficult situation for Mr Cox and his family.
“I have written to the Foreign Secretary urging that all possible assistance and advice is given to my constituents to support them in this distressing time.
“I hope that a satisfactory conclusion can be found, and that Mr Cox can be brought home to continue his recovery.”
A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “We have offered assistance to a British national who is hospitalised in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and are in regular contact with their family to provide support.
“We understand the difficulties in these cases and are ready to assist in any way we can. However, we are unable to provide financial assistance to British nationals overseas, including for medical bills.”
To help Allan, visit his gofundme page. Article courtesy http://www.walesonline.co.uk/
