Family's warning after Devon man's holiday hospital nightmare

A retired pub landlord from Exmouth has finally returned home after enduring more than six weeks in a Turkish hospital when he fell ill on holiday.

Malcolm Stocker, 68, flew to Marmaris in Turkey on May 7 with his girlfriend, Jane, for a two-week break but started suffering from an upset stomach just two days before the couple were due to return home.

He was taken to hospital on May 19, where he was found to be severely dehydrated, with dangerously low sodium and potassium levels and pneumonia symptoms.

With his condition declining, Malcolm was placed in an induced coma and put on mechanical ventilation for two weeks - but it was after he was brought round that the family's nightmare really began.

With no medical insurance to cover his trip, due to several pre-existing medical conditions, the family were hit with a £49,000 medical bill for Malcolm's care and the hospital allegedly wouldn't released him until the first half of it was paid, reports the MailOnline.

The family were then left with no choice but to set up a GoFundMe page to help settle the bills.

After seeking help from a lawyer, Malcolm's three children Lee, 42, Kerry, 37, and Emma-Jane, 33, were able to get the £49,000 bill reduced to £25,000 - with £17,000 of the money raised through the GoFundMe appeal, while the family covered the rest themselves.

After enduring an "absolute nightmare" for over a month, the family has confirmed that Malcolm is finally back home in Exmouth, where he is continuing his recovery.

His son Lee, a taxi driver from Weymouth, who remained in Turkey with Malcolm through the duration of the ordeal, told the MailOnline: "It is a huge relief for dad to be back home. It has been an absolute nightmare not knowing what was happening one day to the next.

"The cost of it is just ridiculous, it feels like the hospital was just making up figures. I employed a lawyer and he got it down from £49,000 to £25,000.

"It is extortionate. It has been said that the hospitals there like to overcharge foreigners five times the amount, I don't know how they get away with it.

"Everyone who donated is absolutely amazing. Without all the help and support of the people who donated we would not be here right now."

Meanwhile Emma-Jane was sharing updates on Malcolm's situation via the GoFundMe page over the last six weeks, writing: "It is like they are holding him hostage and won't release him until the first £20,000 is paid. They won't give us an itemised bill or any paperwork."

Emma-Jane and her older sister, Kerry, initially flew out to Turkey with their brother, Lee - but subsequently had to return to the UK with their father's girlfriend, Jane, due to funds.

She chronicled the family's nightmare, from initially reaching out to solicitors and the Embassy for support in early June, to the hospital refusing to issue the family with a bill or a statement of fees - to finally involving a lawyer and getting the fee reduced at the end of June, more than five weeks after Malcolm was admitted to hospital.

She also documented Malcolm's recovery journey, as he slowly became mobile again after weeks stuck in a hospital bed.

And on July 10, she finally shared the update that the whole family had been waiting for, writing: "DAD IS HOME! I cant believe this has happened! Without the support we have been shown we could not have got him home. Its been a whirlwind!

"He is now home and recovering. He is awaiting tests and appointments to make sure his health is ok."

Meanwhile, Lee confirmed that Malcolm had been checked over at Dorset County Hospital, in Dorchester, saying: "Dad is doing ok. He still doesn't feel well and is struggling with mobility after seven weeks in bed.

"He's got a bit of a way to go still and we're booking doctor appointments for blood tests and things to find out exactly what's going on. It's been a headache, but we're so glad to be home."

Emma-Jane said that their family's ordeal should be a warning to others, adding: "If anything comes from this, we hope this raises awareness. Please never travel without insurance and find yourself in this situation. Spare yourself weeks of hell and battling!

"Myself and family will forever be grateful for this kindness we have been shown by friends and strangers. A HUGE thank you again for every single donation. It really did make the difference and he would still be there today if we had not started this page."