Family’s desperate appeal as Brit dad, 62, is trapped dying in Cyprus hospital after ex-soldier suffers massive brain haemorrhage
THE FAMILY of a former soldier stranded in a Greek hospital are facing a huge medical bill after doctors said they were unable to treat his life-threatening condition.
Paul Elleray, 62, has been living in Cyprus since 2015 but was found unconscious at his home on May 16, having suffered a large brain haemorrhage, leaving him unable to move or talk.
Paul’s daughter Jodie Elleray, 37, and her sister Gemma, 41, have now been told that because of the position of the bleed, it would be too risky for doctors to operate and that he must leave the hospital.
Without the resources to look after their father at his Cyprus home, the siblings are now desperately trying to raise £50,000 to fly him back to the UK and get the urgent medical care he needs before any further fatal bleeding.
The former Royal Signals soldier, who served in Northern Ireland between 1974 and 1981, is now being cared for by his daughters.
The siblings have spent £1,000 so far, travelling to be by his bedside whilst supplying water, food and nappies after the hospital removed his catheter.
Jodie said: "We are worried we might not get him home in time, the bleed could haemorrhage. We feel helpless.
"Doctors have said that without treatment he won't survive
"I knew something wasn't right as he hadn't called to wish me happy birthday and so I asked a friend if he could pop round to check on him.
"It seems a silly thing to be worried about but it was very lucky that we found him when we did.
"He was taken in an ambulance to the local hospital and after a CT scan he was diagnosed with a subdural haematoma.
"He was then transferred two hours away to the hospital in the Capital Nicosia to be assessed by the neurosurgeon.
"The surgeon decided that the position of the subdural haematoma was too dangerous to operate on and there was nothing more they could do to help.
"He was transferred back to Paphos Hospital on Wednesday May 21.
"He has no movement on his right side, cannot talk and his swallow reflex is very limited.
"They are saying that there is nothing more they can do for him and are expecting us to take him home."
Jodie and her sister are now left with the huge financial burden of bringing their dad home where he can access better medical care and be treated with the 'dignity he deserves'.
The pair rushed out to see him just a day later, leaving their own young children behind with family members and using what little savings they already had to be by his side.
Now they need to fund raise £50,000 in order to bring the grandfather of-three home, who previously worked for the governments communications headquarters, GCHQ, and later with police communications.
Jodie said: "They told us he would need to leave the hospital and that was two days ago. We have no idea what we are going to do.
"We are trying to raise funds to get him back to the UK via air ambulance, but his is obviously very costly, a ten minute drive in a ambulance here cost £220 and that's just the start."
"Anyone that knows our dad, will know that he is the kindest, most loving and giving man there is.
"He would do anything for anybody.
"I realise everyone has their own thing they like to support but we are desperate, we need him home to get him treated and have our loving, caring dad back."
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