A young man who is in intensive care overseas following a horrific quad bike crash could be repatriated home, his family have said in a major update.
Bradley Belhomme, from Salford, is fighting for his life on a ventilator in Greece after the quad bike he was riding collided with a coach, his family said, reports The Mirror.
The 20-year-old had flown out to Zante with a group of friends on 2 July, with the accident occurring the following day, and his friend who was also riding the bike was rushed to hospital while Bradley sustained serious injuries.
Bradley was initially taken to hospital in Zante before being transferred to an intensive care unit in a hospital in Attica, Athens, and over the past week doctors have attempted to reduce his sedation and reliance on a ventilator, but this has been unsuccessful, reports The Mirror.
His loved ones say they may now be able to bring him home as early as this weekend, but that he requires a specialised repatriation medical flight costing in excess of £40,000.
His mother Leanne Rabbetts spent time in Greece before returning to Manchester to organise her son’s documents, reports The Mirror.
Leanne said: “We’ve had another update from the hospital. He still hasn’t woken up. They’ve tried to pull him out but he still isn’t breathing on his own.
“This morning, they have tried to reduce Bradley’s sedation to wake him up again. He has also now got pneumonia,” reports The Mirror.
Leanne said plans are being put in place to repatriate Bradley to Salford Royal Hospital, agreed with the hospital in Greece, but that they have been quoted £41,000 for a flight this weekend.
“Because he’s still on a ventilator, he has to have the private air ambulance with the medics,” Leanne explained. “We don’t think he will have been insured because he was on the quad bike.
“I’ve come home to go through all the documents and sort through it with the British Embassy. It’s just about getting him home now so he can be cared for over here, and we have to fund that ourselves,” reports The Mirror.
Speaking about the ordeal to the Manchester Evening News earlier this week, Leanne added: “I flew out on Sunday as soon as I could and have been here every day. We can only spend half an hour with him.
“All I really know is that he’s been on a quadbike with his friends, and they’ve all rented them. As he’s turned around a corner, I’ve been told there’s been a crash with a coach. We didn’t know how serious it was until we got here,” reports The Mirror.
Appeals have been shared across social media from friends, with fundraising events and walks also organised by members of the local community to help raise money for hospital bills and travel home.
An update posted on the fundraising page on Thursday read: “Athens Hospital ICU have said it is in Bradley’s best interest to fly home but as you are all aware this costs more money we have to find another 12,000 pounds to reach our new target,” reports The Mirror.
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