Hurt teen stuck in Crete

Fay Schlesinger

August 05, 2008

| Submit Comments | Comments (14) | Previous | Next

Charlotte Robinson

Charlotte Robinson 1/3 Play Slideshow

A TEENAGER thrown from a moped on a birthday holiday in Crete is fighting for her life while her desperate mum faces £20,000 costs to bring her home.

Charlotte Robinson has barely regained consciousness after falling from the back of the bike in Malia 10 days ago, on the day before her 19th birthday.

The teenager, from Rawtenstall, is connected to a life support machine through a tracheotomy in her throat after suffering serious head injuries and a broken pelvis during her first trip away with friends.

Emergency surgery to remove a three-inch piece of skull and relieve pressure on her brain has allowed the normally bubbly teenager to blink responses and recognise mum Helen, from Stretford, who is at her daughter's bedside.

Speaking from Crete, she said: "It has been just terrible seeing her all swollen up.

"On the plane, I had no idea how serious this would be - it could have been just a bump or she could have been dead. It's very serious and I'm always on edge.

"Charlotte's eyes are a third closed and she can't talk or smile but she blinked looking at pictures of her gran.

Sedatives

"The doctor was more positive today. They want to decrease the sedatives but she gets agitated so they could strap her down to stop her pulling out the tubes."

Strict hospital rules and insurance small print have made Helen desperate for help to save her daughter.

Helen, a special needs teacher, has given up on trying to raise £20,000 to bring Charlotte back to England since discovering her holiday insurance does not cover her plight.

The family are still trying to raise funds though to help care for her when she is released from hospital.

Even though Charlotte was not driving the moped, the possibility she had been drinking invalidates her policy, Helen said.

Charlotte was not wearing a helmet and spent 20 minutes in agony in the road before an ambulance arrived.

The driver suffered minor injuries and has returned to his home in Sale.

But Helen has made a plea for money to help support Charlotte, who had been due to study English at Preston University next month.

Doctors said she might suffer epilepsy or brain damage and could regress over the next month.

Charlotte's sisters Kimberley, 23, and Sarah, 21, have launched a Facebook group to raise money for the care Charlotte will need on release from intensive care.

You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

460

275

false

| Submit Comments | Comments (14) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 14 and replies | View All

Pippa, Manchester (05/08/2008 at 15:52)

Terrible shame, but yet another case of not reading the smallprint. Let this be a warning - make sure your insurance covers repatriation costs !

Laura Genstitt, Manchester (05/08/2008 at 17:21)

It's a bit much when you can't be a passsenger if you've had a drink!

Insurance companies want minimum risk and maximum premium. They don't actually care about you one little bit.

MsD, Manchester (05/08/2008 at 19:10)

Terrible for this young girl and her family but I have recently seen a TV programme about Malia and it's out of control. People just see it as being a bit of fun to drink, and get on the back of a motorbike without a helmet. They behave like they wouldn't necessarily do over here. Not wearing a helmet has caused the injuries suffered by this young girl and all small print on the insurance policy must be double checked beforehand.

citycentre, manchester (05/08/2008 at 22:00)

whats the point in holiday insurance that dosnt cover anyone who has had a drink

might as well save the money and take a chance

selfexiled (06/08/2008 at 08:16)

Laura Gensitt.
being a passenger on a number 25 bus with a drink in you is a lot different to being on the back of a moped .This is the exuberance and excitement of a holiday plus the booze blurring this young lady's sensible thinking.Lets hope she makes a complete recovery and those that read this who are going on hols take note .

Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (06/08/2008 at 08:38)

I hope this girl pulls through,holiday insurance NEVER covers things like this especially where drink is involved by any of the parties.
Her mum could try looking on her household insurance to see if she has any cover there.
Good Luck.

Peter Stevenson (07/08/2008 at 09:54)

I have a problem with the insurer stance. 90% of people drink alcohol on holiday regardless of age, more often to excess. Effectively insurers are misselling policies that will not pay claims to anyone who accidentally injures themselves and needs medical treatment after drinking even one glass of wine regardless of how the accident occurs, whether it be falling off a bike or falling over while walking back from a night out!!. Another point is, was the alcohol in her system the active and efficient cause of the injury. If not, what has it got to do with the claim. How is the term 'excessive' alcohol measured by the insurance policy. This cannot be down to an opinion. She was riding pillion. She was not legally required to wear a helmet in Greece so broke no laws. Did she view getting on the bike as a risk that would lead to injury at the time. Probably not therefore she was not intentionally taking a high risk.
It is shameful that this girl and her family be left to their own devices in such a terrible condition. There but for the grace of god go us all!!!
It is wholly untrue to say all travel policies have such exclusions because some recognise that drinking alcohol is widespread and a socially acceptable passtime.

J D (07/08/2008 at 10:06)

Hi

Anyone who knows Charlotte, knows that she is not a big drinker, she has been portrayed as a lager lout - outragous.

barry j (07/08/2008 at 14:16)

I completely disagree with the fact that she has been portrayed as a lager lout. The unneccessary details such as her working with disabled children I think shows that this article is inciting condemnation of the insurers and not of her.

It is the facts of the story that portray her as a lager lout. She was on holiday in Malia and intoxicated whilst on the back of a moped without a helmet.

However, this does not detract from the fact that the insurers should be paying the £20,000 costs, no matter whether she had had a drink or not and the ombudsmen should be looking into this matter with regards to penalising the insurer.

Bean B4, manchester (07/08/2008 at 14:37)

Insurance is such a con. I have every sympathy with Charlotte and her family and hope she soon recovers and they find the wherewithall to get her home.

On the other hand, if people stopped ripping off insurance companies (whiplash etc) they would be more disposed to help real cases.

Cat Stabber, Moss Side (07/08/2008 at 17:42)

poor girl, they should announce bank a/c details to allow people to donate.

Guten Tag (07/08/2008 at 19:17)

I can't see the point in holiday insurance. The whole point in going away is to relax and the great majority have a drink. So what happens to a person who hardly drinks, but goes on holiday, has a nice meal with a bottle of wine, is then knocked over. Does the insurance company withhold payment because the person has alcohol in their system? What a rip off, as usual.

J D (07/08/2008 at 22:47)

Please join the group

thinking of you in your hour of need

on facebook

Ollie (Travel Guy), Lancashire, England (23/08/2008 at 17:04)

Hoping you have a swift recovery Charlotte.

All our thoughts are with you.

God bless

Oliver (Travel Guy)
www.iwishtravel.co.uk/blog

()

Report

News