Potentially paralysed tourist stranded in Greece after balcony fall

A Scottish tourist who fell from a balcony in Greece is unable to travel home due to the cost of a specialist flight.

Denby McLaren from Larkhall cannot currently use her legs after the three-storey fall, which happened while she was visiting Rhodes to celebrate her 30th birthday.

She has a broken vertebra and multiple fractures to her foot, with her family now waiting to learn if she has suffered permanent injuries.

An air ambulance offering stretcher and medical assistance is needed to get back to Scotland, but these are not covered by her travel insurance. A fundraiser has now been set up to help.

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Denby, who works as cabin crew with an airline, was on holiday with her mum Sharon when the accident happened on 6 October.

She has been in hospital since then, with her partner Craig Anderson travelling to Greece to be with her.

Leeanne Weir, a friend of the family, told BBC Scotland News: "It's absolutely horrific. She can't move her legs, she has a broken vertebra and multiple broken bones.

"The biggest worry is that she can't move her legs and we don't know whether this has affected her spine and if she will be paralysed. But she is also lucky to be alive after a fall like that.

"Denby is a lovely girl, just a really sweet person. It's awful what's happened to her."

Although Denby has medical cover, it does not extend to paying for the specialist repatriation needed.

Leeanne said: "The worry is also that the longer she is there in Greece all the other bills are going up for every extra day they are there.

"Apart from the severity of the injuries they have the language barrier and the added pressure of just trying to get home."

The Go Fund Me page has so far raised about £19,000 of the £28,000 target.

Leeanne said: "It doesn't have to be a huge contribution - we have had a phenomenal response from people so far, whether it's £5 or £50.

"We just want to get her home and start being cared for at home."

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