Dangers of “Balconing” Craze in Spain
August 24th, 2010
A young mother has made an emotional appeal for help in bringing her stranded partner home after he broke his back when a holiday prank went wrong.
Timmy Russell, from Hartlepool in the United Kingdom, broke three bones between his neck and spine after jumping off a bridge into a swimming pool during a lads holiday in Mallorca. Recently there have been a number of similar cases, most often with holidaymakers jumping from their hotel balconies.
The 29-year-old, who injured himself on the first day, is stuck on a strong dose of painkillers in a private hospital in Majorca. His distraught partner Hollie Lynas, who is set to fly out to see him tomorrow, is appealing for help in raising funds to bring him home as soon as possible. But they have been warned that it could take months and thousands of pounds before he can return.
It comes after his insurance company refused to pay out because the injury was self-inflicted, plus there were warning signs around the pool at the hotel apartments in Mallorca.
Hollie, 23, who is mum to their four-month-old son Oliver, said: “I couldn’t believe it when one of his friends rang and broke the news. “I was just numb, I thought they were joking at first. The next day I was just hysterical and I just can’t believe it. “I have only spoken to Timmy a couple of times. He’s in agony. It is awful and we just want him home.”
Medics say he needs a halo neck brace screwing into his skull to support his head, shoulders and upper back but they won’t do it as his insurance is not valid.
He has been told that it could cost as much as £8,500 to do privately, and with other medical bills and flights his family fear the total cost could be nearly £15,000.
They could also be faced with the scenario of Timmy being stuck abroad for the next three to four months until the bones knit together.
Full-time mum Hollie, added: “It looks like it is going to cost a fortune to get him home and we would really appreciate any help.”
Timmy also has another son, Luis Russell-Huntley, eight, with former girlfriend Hayley Huntley. Hayley, 28, said: “Luis is really upset and he just wants to see his dad come back home.
From www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk
What an idiot