Thousands raised for gran fighting for her life in Florida after catching Covid

Well-wishers have raised of pounds for a Wigan gran fighting for her life in Florida after falling ill while on holiday with her family.

Patricia Bunting is in critical care at hospital in Orlando after being struck down with Covid and flu and then developing pneumonia during a dream trip to Disney World.

Mrs Bunting's family told the Tampa Bay Times she had saved for two years to see her grandson enjoy Walt Disney World one more time. The 76-year-old, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a regular visitor to Florida and had bought travel insurance on all of her 20 previous trips to America.

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This time, her family said, the mum-of-three and grandma-of-two couldn't afford the £3,000 to £6,000 cost. But every day she spends in hospital in Orlando her medical bills are spiralling.

Her daughter Emma, who flew out to Florida on Saturday, told the Tampa Bay Times: "She's scared of passing away in a U.S. hospital far from her family. "I want nothing more than to have mum home for Christmas so she's surrounded by all the love of her family."

A GoFundMe campaign to raise the cash needed to bring her back to the UK for treatment has so far raised more than £17,000. The family have set a fundraising target of £50,000 for an air ambulance to bring her back to Wigan.

Emma admits they are 'facing the impossible', but she is determined to help her mum.

Speaking last week she said: "She was okay before she travelled, and has always gone abroad with travel insurance – even though she's never needed it. On this occasion, she was quoted between £3,000 and £6,000.

"She's been with us through thick and thin, since my dad passed away when I was eight. She's the rock of our family. We just want to help her. And it's impossible to do that with her in the US."

You can donate to the fundraiser here.