Latest news with #SamHudson
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'I fell from a balcony during lads' holiday in Ayia Napa and I've been in hospital in agony for weeks, with nightmares every night and I can't walk. I was an idiot - this is my warning to others'
A holidaymaker who fell from his balcony while on a lads holiday to Ayia Napa has warned other tourists to be prepared for the worst. Sam Hudson, 24, had been partying with his brother and a pal at the resort town when he tumbled from the second floor of his hotel while drunk. The single dad said he is 'absolutely kicking myself' at not taking out travel insurance because of the hefty hospital bill he has been left with as doctors have been desperately trying to mend his broken back, pelvis and leg. 'I know I was an idiot,' he told MailOnline. But the decorator from Lincoln said that wouldn't have even made a difference as he had drunk more than four pints and would not be covered. 'It's just not something you'd think about', he explained. He also advised all travellers make sure they had a Global Health Insurance Card before jetting off. Mr Hudson, who has a two-year-old son, left a pool party alone on June 15 when a passerby spotted him trying to walk between balconies at the Anmaria Beach Hotel, where he was staying. It is believed he was trying to reach his brother's room - which was next door - but Mr Hudson says he can't remember anything before the fall. 'I don't even remember falling, it's just a blur. I haven't got a clue to be honest why I was walking between balconies, I'd never done something like that before. 'Apparently I went to another hospital before this one but I don't remember that either. 'Its scary that I can't remember anything but I would get awful nightmares at the beginning. 'My first memory is being on all these machines but I've tried to block out all that stuff because I was in so much pain.' The passerby phoned the emergency services when they saw Mr Hudson plunge from the balcony. He was then rushed to a local clinic, Famagusta hospital in Paralimni, before being transferred to the biggest hospital on the island, Nicosia General Hospital. Doctors said at the time Mr Hudson, who was in 'unimaginable pain', was 'lucky to be alive'. They operated on his pelvis a week ago. 'It's been getting better since the operation, I can finally get up and I spent an hour in the wheelchair today, but I'm still in absolute agony which is to be expected since I've been laying down for so long,' Mr Hudson said. 'I've been going stir crazy, there's only so many things you can watch on Netflix. I zone out now I hardly even watch it anymore. 'I also miss my son so much, I FaceTime him a couple times a day but he's too little to understand why I'm not there. I hope I can see him when I leave hospital.' He said he didn't regret going on this trip but wished others would not have to go through what he has had to go through. 'I will not be going on another lad's holiday though,' he said and revealed that he will only stay in rooms on the ground floor. 'I'm definitely scared of heights now.' His brother, Nathan, and their friend only discovered the terrifying accident when they returned to the hotel where they were met by police waiting in the lobby. Mr Hudson's stepmother, Karen, and her husband flew out the next day to be with their son and have had to fly back and forth while trying to manage their business. 'You just go totally numb, it was the worst phone call you could get. Your mind goes straight for the worst,' Mrs Hudson told MailOnline. The 'devastated' family have set up a GoFundMe to cover health costs after they were faced with paying for a repatriation plane - which costs around £16,000 - or staying in Cyprus for the duration of Mr Hudson's recovery. Nathan is said to be in shock after seeing his brother in hospital and was unable to eat or sleep immediately after the accident. Ms Hudson said: 'You know what young boys are like but I never could have predicted something like this would happen. 'Doctors at the hospital have said he's lucky to be alive or to not have more severe damage. 'Even though the balcony is second floor, the hotel is on a slope and there's a restaurant too, so it's more like the fourth floor. 'If the passerby hadn't seen him, Sam could have been lying there for much longer because their room was at the back of the hotel. She added: 'We told him so many times before he left that he needed to get travel insurance but he didn't listen. 'I want the government to make it a legal requirement that all young people must have travel insurance before travelling because I don't another family to have to go through what we have. 'I've heard of families having to remortgage their house or sell their car to cover costs of accidents like this - all because they didn't think to take out insurance.' The cops have launched an investigation into the circumstances.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Lincoln victim of Cyprus hotel fall urges people to get insurance
A man who suffered serious injuries after falling from a balcony while on holiday in Cyprus is urging people to take out travel insurance before they go Hudson, 24, from Lincoln, broke his leg, pelvis and spine when he fell four storeys from a hotel balcony in Ayia did not have travel insurance in place and he is now stranded in a hospital more than 2,000 miles from home."I did the stupid thing. I didn't get insurance and I thought I'd be all right. But I'm not," he said from the hospital bed he has been stuck in for 10 days. The Association of British Insurers backed the message that travel insurance was vital, and pointed out that medical treatment overseas could be stressful and Hudson travelled to Ayia Napa with his stepbrother, Nathan, and their friend, Alfie. It was the first time he had been away with friends alone."Our holiday had been planned for about four months. We were all really looking forward to it. I'd never been on a lads' holiday," he said. The holiday quickly turned into a disaster. His leg is in plaster and he has a catheter because he can't be has not been able to eat properly since the accident and he is surviving by eating jelly. He has to call for a nurse to plug in his phone when the battery gets Hudson said the care he was receiving was good but the language barrier was making it difficult for him to explain his pain to the doesn't remember much about his holiday or the accident, but witnesses said he was trying to climb from his bedroom balcony to his stepbrother's balcony in the next-door fell and landed on concrete he had not taken out travel insurance or signed up for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) – which allows people to receive free or reduced-cost treatment – he cannot be operated on in Cyprus. 'Angry but relieved' His stepmother, Karen, and dad, Mike, are trying to help him, but because he has been living with friends and his ex-partner, it is hard to prove his flew to Cyprus after the accident, which cost them about £1,300. They are now making plans for Karen to fly back to Cyprus but say flights, accommodation and food will cost them up to £3,000 a month – and they think she will have to stay until August."I'm angry because of the way Sam acted, but it's not relevant at the moment," she said."When he comes home and he's no longer in pain we will be having a chat. I'm angry but I'm also relieved because he's alive. It could have been worse."Flying Mr Hudson home on a medical flight could cost as much as £38,000, so the family have launched a fundraising are urging everyone to get travel insurance and a GHIC have also started a petition calling on the government to make it a legal requirement for everyone who goes abroad to take out a travel insurance Hudson's message is clear: "Get travel insurance. It's definitely worth it." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Scottish Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Brit dad, 24, suffers a broken spine in horror drunken Ayia Napa hotel fall after trying to leap between two balconies
His stepmum is raising awareness about the importance of medical insurance HOLIDAY PANIC Brit dad, 24, suffers a broken spine in horror drunken Ayia Napa hotel fall after trying to leap between two balconies A BRIT dad has been left with a broken spine after plunging 30ft from a balcony in Ayia Napa. Sam Hudson, 24, from Lincoln, was on holiday with his brother and a pal when he tried to leap between two balconies while drunk at the popular Cypriot resort. 4 Sam Hudson has been left seriously injured after falling from a third floor balcony Credit: Facebook 4 The decorator and dad to a two-year-old boy was spotted by a passerby trying to walk between two balconies Credit: Facebook 4 Sam reportedly fell 30ft from the balcony The decorator and dad to a two-year-old boy was spotted by a passerby trying to walk between balconies last Sunday evening. Sam was leaving a pool party at the Anmaria Beach Hotel - where he was staying. He is thought to have been trying to reach his brother's room next door - but the details are unclear, as Sam says he can't remember events before the fall. The passerby phoned emergency services after they saw Sam fall from the balcony. While witnesses say the holidaymaker fell from a second floor of his hotel, the fall was reportedly as high as from the third floor with it being around 30ft, onlookers believe. He was rushed to a local clinic before being transferred to the island's biggest hospital, Nicosia General Hospital. Sam is currently hospitalised in Cyprus after breaking his pelvis, part of his spine and his leg. The Brit faces medical bills running into the tens of thousands - after it emerged he hadn't taken out any travel insurance. Cops have launched an investigation into the accident. His stepmother, Karen, and her husband flew out the next day to be with their son who at the time was in pain and heavily medicated. Brit tourist, 18, fighting for life after third floor balcony plunge in Ibiza as he's airlifted to hospital The family started a GoFundMe to help with medical costs after they had to choose between paying between £30,000 to £60,000 for a repatriation plane or staying in Cyprus for Sam's recovery. In the description of the crowdfunding page, his family says: "This is a devastating situation for both Sam and his family. "Sam has a two-year-old son who's missing his daddy deeply, and Sam is heartbroken that he can't be there with him. "He's not only a father, but also a son and a brother—now stranded, in pain, and feeling isolated so far from home." Over £4,100 has been raised so far. His mum Karen has also spoken out on her son's devastating fall as she told MailOnline: "You know what young boys are like but I never could have predicted something like this would happen. "Doctors at the hospital have said he's lucky to be alive or to not have more severe damage." She added: "We told him so many times before he left that he needed to get travel insurance but he didn't listen. "I want the government to make it a legal requirement that all young people must have travel insurance before travelling because I don't another family to have to go through what we have. "I've heard of families having to remortgage their house or sell their car to cover costs of accidents like this - all because they didn't think to take out insurance." Sam's accident comes weeks after another Brit fell from a hotel balcony in Marbella. The unnamed man was reportedly fighting for his life after falling from the balcony onto a public street at 5am. Police have interviewed the three friends who were with the tourist, who is described in reports as being young. Reports suggest that over 100 people have died from 'balconing' - the dangerous act of jumping or falling from hotel balconies, mostly carried out by young British men - in Spain's Balearic Islands over the past two decades. Several hundred more have been seriously injured. What is balconing? BALCONING is a dangerous practice that emerged in Spain, typically involving foreign tourists. It refers to two behaviours: jumping into a swimming pool from a balcony falling from height while climbing from one balcony to another The term combines the Spanish word balcón (meaning "balcony") with the English suffix '-ing'. Often, those involved are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the British Foreign Office and Spanish doctor Juan José Segura, the 'average practitioner' is a 24-year-old British male. Over the years, numerous people have lost their lives attempting balconing. Authorities strongly warn against this dangerous and potentially fatal activity.
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Brit dad, 24, suffers a broken spine in horror drunken Ayia Napa hotel fall after trying to leap between two balconies
A BRIT dad has been left with a broken spine after plunging 30ft from a balcony in Ayia Napa. Sam Hudson, 24, from Lincoln, was on holiday with his brother and a pal when he tried to leap between two balconies while drunk at the popular Cypriot resort. 4 4 4 The decorator and dad to a two-year-old boy was spotted by a passerby trying to walk between balconies last Sunday evening. Sam was leaving a pool party at the Anmaria Beach Hotel - where he was staying. He is thought to have been trying to reach his brother's room next door - but the details are unclear, as Sam says he can't remember events before the fall. The passerby phoned emergency services after they saw Sam fall from the balcony. While witnesses say the holidaymaker fell from a second floor of his hotel, the fall was reportedly as high as from the third floor with it being around 30ft, onlookers believe. He was rushed to a local clinic before being transferred to the island's biggest hospital, Nicosia General Hospital. Sam is currently hospitalised in Cyprus after breaking his pelvis, part of his spine and his leg. The Brit faces medical bills running into the tens of thousands - after it emerged he hadn't taken out any travel insurance. Cops have launched an investigation into the accident. His stepmother, Karen, and her husband flew out the next day to be with their son who at the time was in pain and heavily medicated. Brit tourist, 18, fighting for life after third floor balcony plunge in Ibiza as he's airlifted to hospital The family started a GoFundMe to help with medical costs after they had to choose between paying between £30,000 to £60,000 for a repatriation plane or staying in Cyprus for Sam's recovery. In the description of the crowdfunding page, his family says: "This is a devastating situation for both Sam and his family. "Sam has a two-year-old son who's missing his daddy deeply, and Sam is heartbroken that he can't be there with him. "He's not only a father, but also a son and a brother—now stranded, in pain, and feeling isolated so far from home." Over £4,100 has been raised so far. His mum Karen has also spoken out on her son's devastating fall as she told MailOnline: "You know what young boys are like but I never could have predicted something like this would happen. "Doctors at the hospital have said he's lucky to be alive or to not have more severe damage." She added: "We told him so many times before he left that he needed to get travel insurance but he didn't listen. "I want the government to make it a legal requirement that all young people must have travel insurance before travelling because I don't another family to have to go through what we have. "I've heard of families having to remortgage their house or sell their car to cover costs of accidents like this - all because they didn't think to take out insurance." Sam's accident comes weeks after another Brit fell from a hotel balcony in Marbella. The unnamed man was reportedly fighting for his life after falling from the balcony onto a public street at 5am. Police have interviewed the three friends who were with the tourist, who is described in reports as being young. Reports suggest that over 100 people have died from 'balconing' - the dangerous act of jumping or falling from hotel balconies, mostly carried out by young British men - in Spain's Balearic Islands over the past two decades. Several hundred more have been seriously injured. What is balconing? BALCONING is a dangerous practice that emerged in Spain, typically involving foreign tourists. It refers to two behaviours: jumping into a swimming pool from a balcony falling from height while climbing from one balcony to another The term combines the Spanish word balcón (meaning "balcony") with the English suffix '-ing'. Often, those involved are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the British Foreign Office and Spanish doctor Juan José Segura, the 'average practitioner' is a 24-year-old British male. Over the years, numerous people have lost their lives attempting balconing. Authorities strongly warn against this dangerous and potentially fatal activity. 4
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Brit dad, 24, suffers a broken spine in horror drunken Ayia Napa hotel fall after trying to leap between two balconies
A BRIT dad has been left with a broken spine after plunging 30ft from a balcony in Ayia Napa. Sam Hudson, 24, from Lincoln, was on holiday with his brother and a pal when he tried to leap between two balconies while drunk at the popular Cypriot resort. 4 Sam Hudson has been left seriously injured after falling from a third floor balcony Credit: Facebook 4 The decorator and dad to a two-year-old boy was spotted by a passerby trying to walk between two balconies Credit: Facebook 4 Sam reportedly fell 30ft from the balcony The decorator and dad to a two-year-old boy was spotted by a passerby trying to walk between balconies last Sunday evening. Sam was leaving a pool party at the Anmaria Beach Hotel - where he was staying. He is thought to have been trying to reach his brother's room next door - but the details are unclear, as Sam says he can't remember events before the fall. The passerby phoned emergency services after they saw Read more world news While witnesses say the holidaymaker fell from a second floor of his hotel, the fall was reportedly as high as from the third floor with it being around 30ft, onlookers believe. He was rushed to a local clinic before being transferred to the island's biggest hospital, Nicosia General Hospital . Sam is currently hospitalised in Cyprus after breaking his pelvis, part of his spine and his leg. The Brit faces medical bills running into the tens of thousands - after it emerged he hadn't taken out any travel insurance. Most read in The Sun Cops have launched an investigation into the accident. His stepmother, Karen, and her husband flew out the next day to be with their son who at the time was in pain and heavily medicated. Brit tourist, 18, fighting for life after third floor balcony plunge in Ibiza as he's airlifted to hospital The family started a In the description of the crowdfunding page, his family says: "This is a devastating situation for both Sam and his family. "Sam has a two-year-old son who's missing his daddy deeply, and Sam is heartbroken that he can't be there with him. "He's not only a father, but also a son and a brother—now stranded, in pain, and feeling isolated so far from home." Over £4,100 has been raised so far. His mum Karen has also spoken out on her son's devastating fall as she told "Doctors at the hospital have said he's lucky to be alive or to not have more severe damage." She added: "We told him so many times before he left that he needed to get travel insurance but he didn't listen. "I want the government to make it a legal requirement that all young people must have travel insurance before travelling because I don't another family to have to go through what we have. "I've heard of families having to remortgage their house or sell their car to cover costs of accidents like this - all because they didn't think to take out insurance." Sam's accident comes weeks after another The unnamed man was reportedly fighting for his life after falling from the balcony onto a public street at 5am. Police have interviewed the three friends who were with the tourist, who is described in reports as being young. Reports suggest that over 100 people have died from 'balconing' - the dangerous act of jumping or falling from hotel balconies, mostly carried out by young British men - in Spain's Balearic Islands over the past two decades. Several hundred more have been seriously injured. What is balconing? BALCONING is a dangerous practice that emerged in Spain, typically involving foreign tourists. It refers to two behaviours: jumping into a swimming pool from a balcony falling from height while climbing from one balcony to another The term combines the Spanish word balcón (meaning "balcony") with the English suffix '-ing'. Often, those involved are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the British Foreign Office and Spanish doctor Juan José Segura, the 'average practitioner' is a 24-year-old British male. Over the years, numerous people have lost their lives attempting balconing. Authorities strongly warn against this dangerous and potentially fatal activity. 4 Sam is 'lucky to be alive' after the fall and is now recovering in hospital Credit: GoFundme
