Family raises £40,000 for medical flight home as 19-year-old Millie Bayles remains semi-conscious in Athens hospital
A British teenager is fighting for her life in a Greek hospital after a suspected ear infection developed into bacterial meningitis during a holiday on the island of Rhodes.
Millie Bayles, 19, from Garth near Llangollen in North Wales, is currently in intensive care in Athens after falling seriously ill whilst holidaying with friends. She was transferred more than 300 miles from Rhodes to a specialist unit in the Greek capital, where she remains in a semi-conscious state.
Her mother, Lauren Murphy, and stepfather, Pete, flew out immediately to be by her daughter’s side as doctors battled to stabilise her condition. The family are now working urgently to bring Millie home to continue her treatment in the UK.
No Travel Insurance
Without travel insurance in place, the family were quoted tens of thousands of pounds for a private medical flight and hospital costs. The lack of coverage has created a financial crisis on top of the medical emergency.
“Unfortunately, due to being an invincible young person, Millie neglected to take out any holiday insurance, and so we have to fund her medical flight home privately,” Lauren Murphy said. We desperately need help to get our girl back to her home country so she can continue her recovery process.
Medical repatriation costs from Greece to the UK can range from £20,000 to over £40,000 for an air ambulance, depending on the patient’s condition and medical requirements. Commercial medical escorts on scheduled airlines, whilst cheaper, are not suitable for patients requiring intensive care.
Community Rallies Round
In a remarkable show of community support, more than 900 people rallied around the family and helped them hit their £40,000 fundraising target in just days. The GoFundMe page has raised £36,000 of the initial target from almost 900 generous donations.
Pete Murphy expressed his gratitude on social media: “I am so overwhelmed by the immediate generosity of all of you lovely people and plenty that are certainly not on my friend list. Myself, Lauren and Millie are so grateful for your kind donations.”
He added: “Millie has got a long battle ahead, but she certainly has a lot of people rooting for her, and we can’t thank you enough for that.”
Long Road to Recovery
Lauren Murphy said her daughter is now out of immediate danger but faces an uncertain future. “We are now at the stage where we can look to bring Millie back to the UK. She is out of immediate danger, but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her,” she explained.
“She is still only semi-conscious, and we have yet to see how badly this illness will have affected her brain in the long term.”
The family moved their daughter to an intensive care unit in Athens three weeks ago, where they have remained by her side throughout her treatment. Medical professionals specialising in neurological conditions have been monitoring her progress closely.
Bacterial Meningitis Risks
Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection that can develop rapidly from other infections, including ear infections. According to medical experts, whilst antibiotics have greatly reduced the dangers of ear infections, serious neurological complications including meningitis still occur.
The condition causes inflammation of the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental state. In severe cases, it can lead to brain damage, hearing loss, or death if not treated promptly.
Dr Michael Hutz from Loyola Medicine noted in medical literature that ear infections can lead to meningitis and other neurological complications, emphasising the importance of prompt treatment even for seemingly minor infections.
Travel Insurance Warning
The case highlights the critical importance of travel insurance, even for short trips within Europe. Whilst UK citizens can access some healthcare in EU countries using a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), these do not cover all costs.
Private medical treatment, repatriation flights, and many other expenses are not covered by GHIC or EHIC cards. The Foreign Office advises that these cards are “not an alternative to travel insurance” and recommends comprehensive coverage for all overseas travel.
Air ambulance services from Greece to the UK typically use specially equipped aircraft with intensive care facilities and medical staff. Costs vary based on the patient’s condition, distance, and required medical equipment, with prices often starting at £200-£400 per mile.
Next Steps
Millie’s family are now hoping she can be flown home as soon as her doctors deem it safe, where she’ll begin the next stage of her recovery. The transfer will require careful coordination between Greek and UK medical teams to ensure continuity of care.
Private air ambulance companies specialising in medical repatriation typically provide bed-to-bed service, including ground ambulance transfers at both ends of the journey. The aircraft are equipped with ICU-level medical equipment and staffed by specialist doctors and nurses.
The Denbighshire Free Press reported that the family has set up a dedicated fundraising page to cover medical expenses and the private flight back to the UK. The overwhelming response from the local community and beyond has provided both financial and emotional support during this difficult time.
As Millie continues her fight against this devastating illness, her case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a holiday can turn into a medical emergency and the vital importance of adequate travel insurance coverage.
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