The family of a west Belfast man have appealed for help after he broke his back while on holiday in Ibiza without travel insurance.
Sean Paul McCabe (20) dived into the shallow end of a hotel swimming pool two days into his first holiday abroad with friends.
He has already undergone emergency surgery last Thursday to reduce pressure on his spinal cord but faces another operation to place metal rods in his back, which snapped in two places.
Mr McCabe, a trainee plumber, had no insurance because he joined the holiday at the last minute after another member of the group cancelled.
His mother Edith, father Gerard and sister Denise have all flown to the Balearic island to be by his bedside. He is in extreme pain and remains in a critical condition in intensive care.
A second operation at the Clinica Del Rosario in San Antonio has been delayed while the family wait for confirmation from the Irish embassy that the cost of the operation will be met.
The family, from Hannahstown on the outskirts of west Belfast, have been told they must pay £20,000 to fly Sean Paul home or face a five-week stay in Ibiza while he recovers.
His sister Denise has set up an appeal to raise money to allow the family to stay with him while he undergoes treatment.
Within six hours of being set up, the page at www.gofundme.com/8s3ugve4 had raised almost one fifth of its £5,000 target.
The family have appealed for help to find affordable accommodation on the notoriously expensive island until Sean Paul recovers sufficiently to fly.
His sister said: “His spinal cord was minutes away from snapping.
“He is still in intensive care where he has to go under another major surgery where he has to get metal rods bolted into his spine.
“It would cost £20,000 to bring him home which is impossible. The only other option we have is to stay here which is expensive.
“We have only been here a few days and it already has cost a few thousand,” she said.
