A British grandfather faces a devastating £40,000 bill for an emergency flight home after breaking his neck in Croatia, with his travel insurance invalidated due to what his friend describes as a "silly mistake" on his medical declaration form.
The Fateful Fall in Dubrovnik
Brian Ackroyd, 65, and his close friend Deborah Wright, 61, had just begun their annual seven-day holiday in Dubrovnik when tragedy struck on October 26. The pair were enjoying their regular coastal walk when Brian lost his footing on uneven ground and fell backwards, becoming trapped between two large rocks.
Deborah Wright described the incident as "traumatic," recalling how she screamed for help as other holidaymakers rushed to their assistance. "The force of the fall was such that Brian stopped breathing," she said. "We had to fight to get him out of the position he was in."
Severe Injuries and Insurance Nightmare
Rushed to hospital, Brian was admitted to intensive care where doctors discovered he had fractured his neck and skull and suffered multiple brain bleeds. He remains in a neurology ward, unable to walk and with limited hand movement due to nerve damage.
The situation worsened when Admiral insurance refused to cover the £40,000 cost of an air ambulance to return Brian to the UK for intensive treatment. The refusal came because Brian hadn't disclosed his type 2 diabetes or that he'd been referred for a colonoscopy on his insurance application.
Deborah, a primary school safeguarding leader from Chorley, Lancashire, expressed her frustration: "To be told everything was fine and the insurance was covering everything and at the 12th hour to be told it was not honouring the claim because of the mistakes Brian made, even though it's nothing to do with his fall."
Community Support and Warning to Others
With medical professionals advising that Brian needs to return to the UK for intensive physiotherapy that the Croatian hospital cannot provide, the pair have been forced to set up a GoFundMe page that has so far raised over £8,749.
Admiral insurance stated they were "really sorry" to hear about Brian's injuries and had offered a £5,000 ex-gratia payment as a goodwill gesture, which was refused. The company emphasised the importance of "declaring all medical conditions" when taking out insurance.
Deborah now urges other travellers: "If you're under any investigations or anything, whether you've had it done or not, you must put that down or you won't be covered by your insurance."
Brian, who has been battling prostate cancer since 2023 but is currently in remission, remains "desperate" to return home as his condition deteriorates daily without the specialist care he requires.
