A British grandmother is fighting for her life 1,500 miles away from home after doctors in a Greek hospital botched an emergency bowel operation.
Donna Hurst, 51, was left unconscious on a ventilator after contracting a severe infection during emergency surgery on her large intestine in Cofu where she was visiting family about a month ago.
Her doting husband Paul Hurst, 57, has been forced to change her sheets and dress her gaping wounds while nurses stand idly by.
Her son Martin Hurst, 33, claims his mother was tied to a hospital bed to stop her writhing in agony after nurses were barred from giving her high-dose painkillers.
He said Mrs Hurst still has open wounds because the hospital has run out of medical gauze and can’t close them properly.
British grandmother Donna Hurst, 51, (pictured) is fighting for her life 1,500 miles away from home after doctors in a Greek hospital botched an emergency bowel operation
Donna Hurst, 51, (pictured) was left unconscious on a ventilator after contracting a severe infection during emergency surgery on her large intestine in Cofu where she was visiting family about a month ago
Now, the family have launched a fundraiser to arrange an air ambulance to bring her home.
Martin told MailOnline: ‘The first operation was rushed, and they probably didn’t need to do it in the first place.
‘She ended up catching a really severe infection, and has been in and out of a coma for a month now.
‘The care she’s receiving is shocking – dad had to change her sheets and dress her wounds because the nurses refused to do it.
Her doting husband Paul Hurst, 57, (pictured with his wife) has been forced to change her sheets and dress her gaping wounds while nurses stand idly by
Mrs Hurst (pictured with her husband) adores her grandkids Ayda Jennings-Jones (left) Joey Turner (right)
‘She ended up getting airlifted to a different hospital because the one in Corfu didn’t have the equipment to keep her stable – but this one isn’t much better.’
Mr and Mrs Hurst were visiting family in Greece when she collapsed in agony just two days before they were due to fly back to Britain.
They were tragically forced to celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary with Mrs Hurst lying in intensive care
Mrs Hurst, from Coalville, Leicestershire, was prepped for emergency surgery after scans revealed a huge blockage in her large intestine.
Her son Martin Hurst, 33, (centre with Mrs Hurst, left, and Paul, right) claims his mother was tied to a hospital bed to stop her writhing in agony after nurses were barred from giving her high-dose painkillers.
A rushed operation to remove the mass left her doubled over in pain with a life-threatening infection taking hold – but doctors discharged her after 48 hours.
The grandmother-of-two was then rushed back to A&E after collapsing for a second time – before surgeons operated again to fix damage from the bungled first procedure.
Martin added: ‘It’s been a month and she’s still got open wounds because they’ve ran out of medical gauze and can’t close them properly.
‘We just want to get her home, but that is going to cost upwards of £30,000 because her insurance won’t cover the air ambulance.
‘We’re talking to the insurance company every day, but nothing seems to be happening.
‘We set up a GoFundMe to cover the air ambulance and have managed to raise around £5,000 so far, but as amazing as that is, it’s still only a fifth of what we need.
Martin said Mrs Hurst (pictured with her grandchildren) still has open wounds because the hospital has run out of medical gauze and can’t close them properly
Mr and Mrs Hurst (left and right) are pictured at their daughter Terri’s wedding
‘It’s hard to hear that your mum is tied to a bed hundreds of miles away. It makes you feel powerless.
‘That’s why I set up the page, I’ve got to do something. She’s trapped over there and because of lockdown has only really got dad to look after her.
‘It’s affecting us all. She adores her grandkids – there’s my sister Terri’s little boy Joey, who’s seven, and my daughter Ayda, who’s nearly two.
‘Terri told me that when she asked Joey what he wanted Santa to bring, he just said he wanted nan and granddad to come home. It’s heartbreaking.
Now, the family have launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to arrange an air ambulance to bring her home. Pictured: Mr and Mrs Hurst
‘Her condition is still life-threatening, and we need to get her back to England so that she can get the medical attention she needs to survive this ordeal and see her grandkids grow up.’
The Foreign Office has been approached for commend.
To donate to the family’s GoFundMe page, click here.