Warning after holidaymaker 'stuck in hospital'

Alan Kirby and his partner Helen Whitemore were on holiday in Greece when things went wrong

The family of a man stuck in a Greek hospital with suspected lung cancer say their fight to return him to the UK has been "emotionally destroying", and have warned others not to repeat their mistakes.

Alan Kirby, from Somerset, thought he had insurance cover for a family holiday to Zante, but the policy was declared void because he did not tell his insurers about a pre-existing lung condition.

Mr Kirby, who is not on medication and felt well when he left, has been diagnosed with pneumonia and suspected lung cancer, and is receiving care in Athens.

His step-daughter Liza Whitemore said the family are trying to raise £30,000 to pay private hospital fees and to fund an air ambulance transfer home.

Mr Kirby's partner Helen Whitemore said they "just want him home" and he is "getting a little bit depressed".

Liza Whitemore said: "He's not come out of bed for a month, not walked. He is just waiting and hoping he can come home."

She said Mr Kirby, of Marston Magna near Yeovil, knew he had a benign tumour in his chest and declared it to Allianz Insurance, but did not get a fit-to-fly certificate as insurers recommended.

Allianz said it "acted in good faith" and denied the family's claim due to the pre-existing condition.

Liza said the family holiday "all came crashing down" after Mr Kirby fell ill

Ms Whitemore said her stepfather fell ill on a holiday the family had taken to celebrate a number of birthdays.

"He was struggling to breathe, so he went to different clinics for X-rays, scans and tests. We thought 'this is really good, they're onto it'," she said.

But once they reached a hospital to pick up some antibiotics, Ms Whitemore said they were shocked to be told "antibiotics won't cure cancer" and that Mr Kirby was going to die.

"Obviously, there's a big communication barrier," she said.

"But it was so scary, my poor mum, bless her. She didn't know anything of what was going on," Ms Whitemore added.

She said Allianz agreed to fly her stepfather to a general hospital in Athens but would not cover the cost of an air ambulance back to Yeovil.

Helen Whitemore (R) said the holiday turned "horrendous" after doctors suggested Mr Kirby (L) could have cancer

The family warned British holidaymakers to ensure they travel with their European Health Insurance Cards and up-to-date-insurance documents, to avoid a scenario like theirs.

Helen Whitemore said: "We should have done it differently - we didn't.

"We're paying the price and we don't want it to happen to anyone else.

"You're left on your own out there."

Allianz said it sympathised with Mr Kirby but was unable to pay out due to the nature of the pre-existing condition.