Man stranded in Greece dies of septic shock

Alan Kirby and his partner Helen Whitemore were on holiday in Greece when he fell ill

A man who was stranded in Greece has died from septic shock, according to his family.

Alan Kirby, 67, from Somerset, was on a family holiday in Zante when he was diagnosed with pneumonia and suspected lung cancer, and received care in Athens.

His step-daughter Liza Whitemore was trying to raise £30,000 to pay private hospital fees and to fund an air ambulance transfer home but until then Mr Kirby had to stay in Greece.

His family have now confirmed that he died overnight on Tuesday.

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.

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

He was not on any medication and felt well when he travelled from the UK, his family said, but in hospital in Greece was diagnosed with pneumonia and suspected lung cancer.

Insurer Allianz had agreed to fly Mr Kirby to a general hospital in Athens but would not cover the cost of an air ambulance back to Yeovil.