THE family of a critically-ill woman who fell on a holiday in America have been told her insurance policy will not cover her treatment - because she had been drinking.

Kathleen Ackers, 63, slipped and hit her head at an apartment in Orlando.

She suffered bleeding to the brain and is now in intensive care at a Florida hospital.

She has already been treated at two hospitals and was airlifted between them by helicopter.

Her family fear the medical bills will run into thousands and flying her back to Britain would cost é10,000-é20,000. The Halifax told the family the insurance policy is invalid because Mrs Ackers had been drinking on the night of the accident.

It was only after the intervention of the M.E.N. that the Halifax offered to pay up to é20,000 to fly her home as a goodwill gesture.

Blood

Mrs Ackers, from Ashbourne Avenue, Wigan, was sharing the apartment with husband Ted, son Mark and his two children.

Speaking from Florida, Mr Ackers said: "I found Kathleen lying in a pool of blood. We phoned 911 and she was rushed to Celebration Hospital, but they wanted her to see an expert neurologist at Florida Hospital.

"We were told the policy would cover the cost so Kathleen was taken by helicopter to Florida. It also said it would cover my accommodation.

'Deteriorated'

"Kathleen was talking initially, but has since deteriorated rapidly and I have been told the prognosis is bad. She might not make it, but if she's going to die I want to take her back to the UK."

Mrs Ackers, a mother-of-two, had about 300 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood in her system - equivalent to about eight to nine vodkas.

The family's travel insurance policy has a clause invalidating payment if she is under the influence of alcohol. It says: "Your policy does not cover you for any claim directly or indirectly resulting from... the misuse of alcohol or you being under the influence of alcohol."

Mr Ackers said: "We have never hidden the fact we'd had a fair bit to drink, but who doesn't while on holiday? The alcohol clause is buried in the policy. The company should warn people."

Heart valve

Mrs Ackers' condition was complicated because she has a heart valve fitted. She was unconscious and has been given a tracheotomy to help her breathe.

Carol Wright, a spokeswoman for Halifax Travel Insurance, said: "Insurers are guided by the opinion of the medical carers of the holidaymaker. In the case of Mrs Ackers, it was the opinion of the medical carers that she was seriously under the influence of alcohol and that this directly contributed to the incident."

The Association of British Insurers said the clause was standard with travel insurance.

Spokesman Kelly Ostler said: "If you are drunk and something happens, you are responsible for the state you have put yourself in. Travel insurance is there to protect against the unexpected. We would encourage people to be responsible."